All American Marine to build hybrid ocean sampling vessel

All American Marine (AAM), which specializes in building vessels with hybrid and electric propulsion systems, has secured a contract to build a 63-ft. hybrid catamaran for the Orange County (California) Sanitation District (OC San). The Teknicraft-designed vessel will support the district’s Ocean Monitoring Program, which monitors the potential environmental impacts of OC San’s discharge of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, ensuring compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

The catamaran will incorporate a hybrid propulsion system powered by Cummins QSB 6.7 engines paired with an ABB hybrid-electric propulsion system. (Source: All American Marine)

The catamaran will incorporate a hybrid propulsion system powered by Cummins QSB 6.7 engines paired with an ABB hybrid-electric propulsion system. Designed to meet California Air Resources Board’s annual equivalence requirements for Zero-Emission Capable Hybrid Vessels, 30% of the vessel’s operational power will be provided through a BorgWarner battery energy storage system (BESS), which can store up to 588 kW of clean energy.

A Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), Okeanus dual-drum winch and custom-built A-frame will enable it to handle complex oceanographic research and sample collection. The deck design will accommodate over 10 scientists, and the main cabin offers both a dray and wet lab as well as live-aboard features for extended research missions.

The hybrid catamaran will be built with dual propulsion permanent magnet motors that will receive their power from the BESS. The auxiliary generators that provide charging power are acoustically insulated to minimize noise pollution, providing a quiet work environment for scientists in the wet and dry lab spaces.

Once completed, the vessel will enable OC San to carry out environmental monitoring, marine research and ocean sampling along the Southern California coast.

“This hybrid ocean sampling vessel will not only support vital research and monitoring efforts, but it also underscores our commitment to building vessels with hybrid and electric propulsion systems,” said Ron Wille, president and COO of All American Marine. “We look forward to delivering a vessel that exceeds OC San’s expectations for both performance and environmental impact.”

Construction will take place at AAM’s facility in Bellingham, WA, with the vessel expected to be delivered in 2027.