b'ries isestimated for late 2025 or early 2026. Designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, the boats will be equipped with a hybrid propulsion system allowing the ferry to operate in a hybrid mode, resulting in lower exhaust emissions.The 190 boats will replace the M/V Cameron II, which was built in 1964. The boats will be end-loading vessels to load and unload large commercial vehicles. Two boats will be built so that ferry service will continue uninterrupted when one vessel undergoes required dry docking as per U.S. Coast Guard regulations.In the past when M/V Cameron II was in dry dock, a temporary side-loading ferry was put into service. This NAVAL ARCHITECT:Elliott Bay Design Group allowed passenger vehicles to cross, but trucks longer than BUILDER:Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC about 50 feet were unable to use the ferry and had to de-OPERATOR:Louisiana Department of Transportation tour approximately 100 miles around the Calcasieu Ship and Development Channel. The two new boats will allow ferry service of TYPE:Passenger and vehicle ferry commercial vehicles to continue uninterrupted.PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT OPPOSITE PAGE: GILBERT ASSOCIATES INC., ELLIOTT BAY DESIGN GROUP, CASCO BAY LINES, GLOSTENThoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC is working on con- TheCameronferryaveraged153,500vehiclesand480 struction of two new ferry boats for the Cameron crossingpassengersperyearbetweenfiscalyear2018andfiscal in Cameron Parish in Louisiana. Delivery of the two fer- year 2021.VESSEL:Battery SteeleNAVAL ARCHITECT:Elliott Bay Design GroupOPERATOR:Casco Bay LinesTYPE:Passenger and vehicle ferryProgresscontinuesontheconstructionofCascoBay Linesnewhybrid-electricferry.DesignedbyElliott Bay Design Group, the ferry will replace an existing die-sel-powered vessel. Delivery is expected in 2025The ferry will have capacity for 15 vehicles and 599 passen-gers spread across three decks, including a sun deck with unobstructedviews.Thedouble-endedconfiguration eliminates the need to turn the vessel around, reducing the required speed and energy consumption for the ferry even though it is larger than the vessel it is replacing.As construction of the new hybrid vessel, Battery Steele, progresses at the shipyard, the robotic arm portion of the vessels shoreside charging system was recently installed at the terminal. Charging while docked in Portland, and op-erating in battery-powered mode whenever possible, the hybrid propulsion system in the new vessel will eliminate up to 800 metric tons of COemissions annually.237 DECEMBER 2024'