b'FOGHORN FOCUS Take new propulsion stillhavetheoptiontorefitanexistingfleetorvesselas long as it is in good overall condition, said Santos.as an example, its not just Takenewpropulsionasanexample,itsnotjustreplac-ingtheengine,butmakingtheentirepropulsionsystemreplacing the engine, moreefficient,profitable,andsustainable.Ifyoudothisright,youcanhaveavesselthatperformsevenbetterfor but making the entireyearstocome.propulsion system moreFundamentally, repowering replaces outdated enginesefficient, profitable, andandpropulsionsystemsfromexistingvesselswithmoremodernandcost-effectivepropulsioncomponents.Thesesustainable. If you do thissolutionsstrivetoreducefuelconsumptionanddecreaselife-cycle costs. An integral repower includes a properright, you can have a assessmentofaferryspropulsionsystem,includingthetransmission,propellers,andcontrols.Itsalsoimportantvessel that performs eventoconsiderthevesselsmaintenanceandoperationalpro-file,itscurrentcondition,theavailabilityofreplacementbetter for years to come. partsandanydesiresforfutureperformance.Whiletherearemanyfactorstoweigh,choosingtorepowerisaviableDAVID SANTOS optionformany.ZFWhenconsideringarepower,anoperatorshouldalwayspartnerwithapropulsionexpertwhocanofferconsul-tationsthatsavetimeandmoney,aswellashigh-qualitycustomersupportandinnovativeproducts,saysSantos.areverycomplex.Weareseeingagoodmixofgrant-funded Theywillbeabletoevaluateyourneedsandadviseyouprojectsandthosethatareprivatelyfundedrightnow. ontheprojectscope,soyoucanbetterunderstandthetruecostsofbuildingnewversusrepowering.Amajorchallengeofthesegrantsisthatvesselsmustunder-goconstructioninU.S.shipyardsanduseAmerican-made Another consideration for building new or repoweringparts.Lowercapacityinshipyardsoftenmeansprojects is compliance with stricter environmental regulations, aextendfurtherintothefuture,leadingtoevenhigherand growingconcernforcoastalcommunities.Buildingnewismoreunpredictablecosts.Andonlyahandfulofdomestic thegoldstandardforenvironmentalprotectiontoensuresuppliers exist that can manufacture specialized marine youareabletofitthelatesttechnologyorfuelsystemsequipmentandgear,complicatingsourcing. aboardbutrepoweringwithTier4-compliantdieselen-ginesalonehelpstoreduceemissions,makingpassengerFortunately,theresapotentialsolutiontoallthesechal- vesselsamoresustainabletransportationoption.Thesizelengesavailabletooperatorsinneedofurgentupgrades: ofvesselsbeingbuiltnow,someintheindustryhavenoted,refit of existing passenger vessels. Refitting extends the isbeingdriveninpartbythedieselsystemsthatareneededlifespanofavesselbydecades,delayingthecapitalexpen- tomeetEPATier4requirements.ditureofanewvessel.Further,refitscantakesignificantlylesstimethanbuildingnew,soshipyardslotsareoften Whilerepoweringisntaone-size-fits-allsolution,itoffersamorereadilyavailableforsuchwork. morefinanciallyfeasiblepathformanyoperators.Itallowsthemtofocusonattractingridershipandmaintainingare-Operatorsarefacingthehardchoiceofwhethertobuild liableservice,ensuringpassengervesselsremainavitalpartornotbuildrightnow.Itsimportanttoknowthatifyou of the U.S. transportation network. Upgrading enginescantaffordtobuildnewpassengervesselsrightnow,you withcleaner,moreefficienttechnologiescanalsosignifi-FOGHORN 12'