McKay Makes Waves in New Zealand's Marine Market As They Secure New Zealand's First Fully-Electric Ferry

McKay are very proud to announce that they will be developing and implementing New Zealand’s first plug-in fully electrical ferry alongside the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company (WEBBCo), SSC Marine and Gurit with WEBBCo leading the build in Wellington. Not only is this the first of its kind in New Zealand, but also the entire southern hemisphere, demonstrating the ground-breaking nature of this project in making a legitimate commitment to the future of sustainable transport.

The project will consist of a modern, composite catamaran ferry using a McKay designed and installed power and energy management, energy storage system and electric propulsion systems. This technology is made possible through WEBBCo’s unique carbon-fibre build that translates into a light-weight vessel that can travel the distance required utilising the electric propulsion system. Project delivery is expected in the 4th quarter of 2020.

“The good news is electrotechnology is advancing and innovating, bringing with it sustainable solutions for the world’s sea-transport fleets. Here at McKay we are committed to discovering cutting edge electrotechnology solutions that allow our clients to achieve their sustainability goals. Our Research and Development team are committed to advancing our marine based solutions to suit both the New Zealand marine environment, as well as overseas markets” says Lindsay Faithfull, Managing Director at McKay.With international shipping accounting for around 3% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, it is time for industry leaders to consider the effects this could have on long-term sustainability. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) warns that while other sectors, including land-based transport, make a move towards decarbonising, this 3% figure could quickly jump to over 17% by 2050 if no action is taken.

Fully electric ferries are the first step towards a sustainable future in the marine market with Electrek reporting that they could cut emissions by up to 95%. In addition, but long-term costs could potentially be reduced by up to 80% with rechargeable batteries eliminating costly fuel expenditure.

McKay’s end-to-end electrotechnology solutions always have the future in mind and aim to achieve long-term effectiveness in terms of cost, maintenance, sustainability and durability. The company’s turn-key services allow McKay to provide cutting edge marine technology that truly progresses the industry – from initial design, to manufacturing, to installation and maintenance.

If you share this vision for the global marine market, get in touch today to see how McKay and our partners could help you take the first steps towards a more sustainable future.