en.Wedoany.com Reported - The hull of a new hybrid-electric tour boat commissioned by the Port of Houston has been successfully flipped. Shipbuilders at Breaux Brothers Enterprises Inc. in New Iberia, Louisiana, completed this key construction milestone.
The hull is a 73-foot-long, 28-foot-wide aluminum catamaran, built upside down to allow welders to more efficiently perform exterior plate welding. After the main hull structure was completed, a crane from H. Brown lifted and flipped it to the upright position. Next, workers will begin installing the hybrid propulsion system, piping, and interior passenger space facilities.
Designed by U.S. naval architecture firm Incat Crowther, the vessel will be equipped with a Twin Disc battery-hybrid propulsion system, including two 265 kW propulsion motors driving fixed-pitch propellers through Twin Disc MGE-5065 SC gearboxes. The vessel's maximum design speed is 12 knots.
The onboard energy storage system has a capacity of 768 kWh, sufficient to power its standard two-hour educational tour entirely on battery power, providing a quiet, zero-emission sailing experience. Between trips, the vessel will be charged via a custom shore charging system equipped with AC/DC converters. To ensure operational reliability and range requirements, the vessel is also equipped with two Caterpillar C9.3 backup generators, each rated at 300 kW, to increase operational flexibility. The vessel's capacities include 700 gallons of fuel, 250 gallons of fresh water, and 250 gallons of sewage.
The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and will provide lower-carbon public tours of the Houston Ship Channel upon entering service. The Port of Houston offers two free maritime education and industry awareness tours daily from Tuesday to Saturday, with additional themed tours available upon request.
The new vessel, compliant with U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T regulations, can accommodate 150 passengers on two decks, adding approximately 60 seats compared to the "Sam Houston" it will replace. The main deck air-conditioned cabin features 68 seats, including two wheelchair-accessible areas, along with a concession stand, information counter, and four restrooms.
The upper deck can accommodate 81 passengers, with approximately 90% of seats shaded. This deck layout facilitates easy movement, and the large pilothouse on the upper deck provides the captain and crew with a 360-degree panoramic view.
"We wanted a vessel that is more environmentally friendly, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and better suited for multiple uses such as maritime education tours and special events," a Port of Houston spokesperson told WorkBoat when ordering the vessel.
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