Norway-based Hydroniq Coolers has completed delivery of a seawater cooling system for Wishkah, the first of three new 160-auto hybrid-electric ferries under construction for Washington State Ferries (WSF).
The Rack cooling system was delivered approximately four years ahead of the ferry’s scheduled 2030 delivery, the earliest Hydroniq said it has supplied one of its seawater cooling systems relative to completion of a vessel.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group began construction of the ferry at its Panama City, Fla., shipyard in August. The vessel is the first of three hybrid-electric ferries being built for WSF as the operator replaces aging vessels and moves toward a more electrified fleet.
Hydroniq is supplying the equipment as a subcontractor to W&O, a SunSource company, which was selected by Eastern Shipbuilding to provide the vessel’s marine cooling system.
Hydroniq’s Rack system normally sits within the hull beneath the engine room and uses seawater to cool machinery and auxiliary systems without taking up engine room space. For the WSF vessel, Hydroniq supplied the cooler as a complete package inside a steel enclosure rather than leaving fabrication of that enclosure to the shipyard.
The package includes multiple freshwater systems and is designed to arrive ready for installation. Hydroniq said the enclosure can be welded into place before the vessel’s water connections are made, reducing assembly work required at the yard.
“This is the first time in the history of our company that we have delivered a seawater cooling system four years prior to the vessel delivery date,” said Inge Bøen, CEO of Hydroniq Coolers.
The system uses titanium tube bundles and includes an impressed current anti-fouling system intended to limit marine growth within the seawater circuit. The system applies a controlled electrical current to copper anodes, releasing ions that help prevent fouling and biofilm buildup on the cooling equipment.
One of the tube bundles manufactured for the project was also the 1,500th produced by Hydroniq.
The new WSF ferries were designed by Elliott Bay Design Group and will measure 409'6" long with an 83'2" beam. Each vessel will carry up to 160 standard passenger vehicles and 1,500 passengers.
The ferries are being designed to operate using diesel, battery-electric, or hybrid propulsion and will be capable of rapid charging during terminal stops. Washington State Ferries plans to transition to a hybrid-electric fleet by 2040.
