Getting to Alcatraz just got greener. Alcatraz Cruises recently launched the Hornblower Hybrid boat which ferries people to and from the San Fransisco prison that once housed the likes of Al Capone, Gregory "Machine Gun" Kelly and the Choctaw Kid.
Alcatraz Cruises took over the ferry service concession to Alcatraz in 2006. The company has since carried nearly 3 million passengers to the island while developing a more eco-friendly way to get around on the water.
"The building of the Hornblower Hybrid was viewed by Alcatraz Cruises as a proactive way to reducing emissions," says spokeswoman Tegan Firth. "We view the making of this boat as something we had to do in order to better the environment."
The Hornblower Hybrid is a 64-foot long catamaran, and Alcatraz Cruises purchased the vessel in early 2008. The company replaced nearly 90% of its machinery and furnishings to the tune of $4 million. A Marathon 320 KW generator, a 400 hp electric motor, 10 ft. wind turbines, and 1.2 KW photovoltaic solar panels charge a 380V battery pack that supplements the Hornblower Hybrid's clean diesel engines.
Energy usage on the boat is monitored by a system that selects the most efficient power source for specific boating conditions or circumstances. When the boat is idling at the dock the diesel engines shuts off and the motors run off of energy stored in the batteries. That cuts fuel consumption to between 5 and 7 gallons an hour instead of the 25 gallons per hour that's typical of other ferrries of the same size.
The eco-friendliness extends beyond the drivetrain. The Hornblower Hybrid features carpet made from recycled materials, and the signs don't contain any harmful chemicals and the LED lighting uses less electricity than conventional bulbs. Even the counter tops are made of recycled vodka bottles.
"The Hornblower Hybrid is not just the next step in Alcatraz Cruises' goal to become the greenest concessioner in the National Park Service," says Scott Thornton, Vice President of Operations and General Manager of Alcatraz. "With this vessel we hope to become a model of environmental innovation for the city of San Fransisco, the state of California and the United States."
In addition to the Hornblower, the National Park Service Concessionaire plans another hybrid vessel for San Francisco, as well as one for the company's New York-based cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands. These hybrids according to Cameron Clark, Hornblower Hybrid's Director of Environmental Affairs, will supposedly be equipped with an advanced battery pack capable of doing an entire ferry route with zero-emissions.
Photos by Hornblower Hybrid Boats.
