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New Zealand
Reporting on the latest developments from the New Zealand maritime sector
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New Zealand’s first fully electric ship enters service
The southern hemisphere’s first fully electric, carbon fibre commuter ferry has successfully completed its inaugural round trip with a Thordon seawater lubricated propeller shaft arrangement supplied by New Zealand’s Henley Engineering.
IKA Rere, Mãori for flying fish, joined the East by West Ferries fleet in December 2021 operating the company’s Wellington to Eastbourne route.
Commenting on the ferry’s first trip, between West Queen’s Wharf and Days Bay, Henley Engineering Managing Director, Mark Power, said: “Ika Rere runs like a Tesla Model S! It’s fast, efficient, smooth and quiet. It is a truly inspiring vessel. We hope to be involved in more projects like this.”
Constructed by the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company, the 19-metre Ika Rere is powered by Meridian Energy for Metlink public transport services and owned and operated by East by West Ferries.
East by West Managing Director Jeremy Ward said the ferry had energised his company’s vision of Wellington as a sustainable, smart city.
“Complementing our goal of using Wellington’s harbour-based geography to reduce transport emissions, Ika Rere will also deliver a comfortable and reliable service for passengers.
“Her electric power unit is quieter and smoother with fewer moving parts than a diesel engine. That means less maintenance and less disruption to the sailing schedule.” Made from carbon fibre, the light yet durable catamaran can transport up to 132 passengers at a speed of 20 knots. East by West’s existing diesel-powered vessels are slower and carry a third fewer passengers.
Utilising Kiwi expertise
Auckland based Henley Group – Thordon’s authorised distributor for New Zealand –designed and supplied the vessel’s driveshafts aft of twin 325kW battery-powered electric motors.
The scope of supply included a pair of Thordon SXL seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearings installed in Easiflow GRP sterntubes; shaft seals with Thordon XL oil/grease-free guide bushes; shaft lines and propeller; couplings, mounts, thrust bearings and brakes.
East by West Managing Director Jeremy Ward said: “While the quiet hum of an electric boat is a much more pleasurable experience for passengers, this project was driven by our desire to take climate action. A Thordon Bearings’ zero pollution package was the perfect fit for this eco vessel. A smooth, quiet and water lubricated driveline was an essential environmental requirement.”
Silent at 10 knots
The 19m (62ft) long, 132 passenger-carrying fast cat is also the first vessel delivered by the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company (WEBBCo), a joint venture between the ferry operator and established boatbuilder Fraser Foote.
WEBBCo Managing Director Fraser Foote said: “The ferry is very quiet at 19 knots and silent at 10 knots. It is faster and uses less energy than we anticipated. Ika Rere is a hugely successful project for us. We are the first in the southern hemisphere to have taken a vessel of this kind off the drawing board and onto the water.”
Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter said Ika Rere would empower customers to choose a renewable method of commuting between Eastbourne and Wellington.
“It’s wonderful to have a homegrown, sustainable public transport option alongside our electric buses. Ika Rere is driving Wellington’s journey to carbon neutrality.”
Meridian Chief Customer Officer Lisa Hannifin said her company was proud to be propelling the maritime innovation.
“As a generator of 100% renewable energy, Meridian is delighted to be supporting the first fully electric passenger ferry. It proves the potential for the electrification of transport to disrupt the status quo while reducing the impact of climate change.
“Our partnership also allows East by West to support 100% renewable energy generation through our Certified Renewable Energy product, enabling them to report their Scope 2 electricity emissions as zero.” n
