Hybrid-Powered Research Vessel Christened

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk christened its ‘green’ research vessel on Friday, September 26 in preparation for launching a new era in examining, monitoring and teaching about Long Island Sound. The $2.7m research vessel, Spirit of the Sound, was christened and named during a ceremony at the Aquarium dock. Breaking a bottle on her hull was godmother of the boat, Astrid Heidenreich of Greenwich.
The boat is reported to be the first research vessel in the U.S. to run on hybrid-electric propulsion. Upon her launch in December, she will run virtually silently on electric power for the Aquarium’s 2.5-hour public “study cruises” on Long Island Sound.
The 63-ft. all-aluminum catamaran will replace the Aquarium’s 40-ft., 34-year-old diesel-powered trawler, R/V Oceanic. The new boat will have a climate-controlled indoor classroom and an outdoor research space. With more room inside and out, the new research vessel doubles the Aquarium’s capacity for getting visitors out on the water – from 29 to 60 people per cruise.
R/V Spirit of the Sound’s hybrid-electric propulsion system will reduce fuel consumption by an estimated 75%.  Not just for students, the R/V Spirit of the Sound will be used for the Aquarium’s public study cruises as well.
Initial public outings on the boat begin in mid-December with Seal Spotting Cruises, offered many weekends through mid-April. Even greater opportunities to experience the boat begin in May, with the Aquarium’s 2015 season of Marine Life Study Cruises, during which crabs, mollusks, squid and a wide variety of salt-water fish are brought up out of Long Island Sound for examination. 
Major contributors toward the new boat include: George and Carol Bauer of Wilton; The TK Foundation of Nassau, Bahamas; and the Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation of Greenwich. Bank of America is official sponsor of the boat’s inaugural season.
Designed by Incat Crowther of Australia, Spirit of the Sound is being built in Mamaroneck, New York, at the Robert E. Derecktor Inc. shipyard, with construction managed and integrated by Alternative Marine Technologies (Amtech). Her hybrid-electric propulsion system was made by BAE Systems Inc., Corvus Energy and Northern Lights Hybrid Marine.
Fundraising and planning was led by Per Heidenreich, founder of Norwalk-based Heidmar, Inc., a commercial tanker operator. Committee member Robert Kunkel, president of Amtech, is serving as the Aquarium’s project manager for the boat’s construction.
Bank of America agreed to sponsor the inaugural season for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s new research vessel.
is being built in Mamaroneck, New York, at the Robert E. Derecktor Inc. shipyard, with construction managed and integrated by Alternative Marine Technologies (Amtech). Her hybrid-electric propulsion system was made by BAE Systems Inc., Corvus Energy and Northern Lights Hybrid Marine.
Fundraising and planning was led by Per Heidenreich, founder of Norwalk-based Heidmar, Inc., a commercial tanker operator. Committee member Robert Kunkel, president of Amtech, is serving as the Aquarium’s project manager for the boat’s construction.
 

(As published in the October 2014 edition of Marine Technology Reporter - http://www.marinetechnologynews.com/Magazine)