Black Cat Cruises, which has been operating the Diamond Harbour Ferry service since 2000, is looking at buying a battery-electric vessel.
The city council will provide a $45,000 grant towards the purchase of Black Cat’s battery electric ferry through the Innovation and Sustainable Development Committee, while Crown agency, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, will contribute $200,000 towards the project.
Black Cat Cruises chief executive Paul Milligan said the service is growing in popularity and a larger vessel is needed.
"The company is always looking for ways to minimise their impact on the environment and it’s excited about investigating the possibility of an electric ferry."
“The relatively short trip times of the Diamond Harbour Ferry Service and the access to charging at the Lyttelton Port end make it the ideal ferry to further develop and test marine battery-electric technology," he said.
“A fully electric, zero exhaust emission vessel would not only be good for the environment through the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduced engine noise for the marine mammals in the harbour.”
Early investigations suggest that using two 250 kW electric motors would reduce greenhouse emissions from the ferry by about 344 tonnes per year.
A detailed feasibility study is planned for completion by early next year and if everything goes to plan, a full battery electric ferry could be sailing between Lyttelton and Diamond Harbour early in 2021.
City council resource efficiency manager Kevin Crutchley said the project aligns well with the city council's goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from Christchurch's transport.
He said battery-electric vessels are a new, innovative technology in New Zealand.
“Having a zero exhaust emission ferry operating on Lyttelton Harbour will demonstrate this exciting new technology to both the public and to the marine industry.”
