b'FOGHORN FOCUSTwo combustion engines drive the propellers during high-speed navigation while simultaneously driving the hybrid electric motors via the gearboxes to charge the batteries. At the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2025, thefunction as a lifeline for the island inhabitants who are team at Rolls-Royce Power Systems shared a case study oftraveling to work or school, to access medical service, or an operator they worked with that is replacing their fleetcommuting for other needs. With up to 300 departures a with new hybrid-electric vessels primarily to reduce theirday, the operator averages 100,000 departures a year, car-environmental impact. We reached out to them to learnrying more than three million passengers annually to 31 moreabouttheproject,theoperatorsneedsfromtheirports between the mainland of Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and propulsion system, and what system was chosen.several Sicilian islands. PHOTO: ROLLS-ROYCE POWER SYSTEMSThe Italy-based operator, Liberty Lines, was founded inThe fleet of high-speed ferries was made up mostly of hy-1993 and runs a fleet of 30 high speed ferries. Althoughdrofoils, as well as some catamarans and monohulls, but the area attracts many tourists, especially in the summeras the company grew, it became increasingly difficult to months, the main purpose of the ferry line is to serve pri- maintain both a high level of performance and environ-marily as public transit for locals. The vessels are in servicementalsustainability.In2021,thecompanysetfortha year-round,inallseasonsandweatherconditions,andplan to renew their entire fleet. They decided to move away FOGHORN 18'