Elkon Awarded Contract for Two Seaspan Hybrid Ferries

Elkon (Istanbul), a subsidiary of Imtech Marine, has been awarded an interesting contract from Sedef Shipyard (Tuzla, Istanbul) for the delivery of the electrical equipment, propulsion system and services for two Canadian Seaspan hybrid ferries.

The two, 148.9 m, dual-fueled (diesel and liquefied natural gas) ferries are propelled by a hybrid-electrical propulsion system and can accommodate up to 59 trailers. These state-of-the-art ferries will replace aging vessels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, while ensuring the highest level of efficiency, performance and reliability.

For these vessels Elkon will contribute substantially to reducing emissions, by being responsible for the design, specification, production and installation of the complete Electrical system, including the Hybrid Electrical Propulsion system, battery system and automation system.

Ali Can Yurdakul, Elkon Manager Sales & Marketing, comments: “These vessels are complex and very innovative with the additional hybrid battery system. Elkon is proud to have been awarded this contract from Sedef – a long-term partner of our company – to assist the yard in completing this innovative and sustainable project. Of course, we will make sure that everything is on time, of good quality and within budget.”

Elkon is recognized as a leading company in Turkey for electrical engineering and installation. “We have some 50 highly specialized electrical and mechanical engineers, and next to that Elkon has more than 350 employees active in execution and installation of projects. We have delivered more than 500 vessels over the last 30 years,” adds Mr Yurdakul.

Elkon and Sedef Shipyard are based in the heart of the shipbuilding industry near Istanbul and have worked with each other for more than two decades. Both Elkon and its parent company, Imtech Marine, have considerable experience in working on hybrid vessels.

Imtech Marine has been active in the Canadian market for many years and has offices in Vancouver, Halifax and Quebec.  Recently, Imtech Marine   also supplied a hybrid propulsion system for the diesel electric, hybrid ferries operated by CMAL, on the west coast of Scotland.

Seaspan Ferries Corporation has over 100 years of marine transportation experience operating to and from Vancouver Island. Construction on the ferries is scheduled to start in early 2015 and both are expected to be in operation by late 2016. Elkon’s dedicated project team will start installation on the two new vessels mid next year.