Maritime battery manufacturer Freudenberg e-Power Systems (FEPS) and Derecktor Shipyards have announced they are going to work together on a third hybrid-electric ferry for the Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) in the City of Savannah in the US state of Georgia.
The vessel will be outfitted with 32 high-power XMP 96P Marine subpacks with a total installed capacity of 307kWh. FEPS provided the battery packs to Derecktor Shipyards, which will handle the integration on this latest project.
The FEPS battery packs will ensure the ferries can charge quickly, while providing “a quieter, more environmentally friendly and efficient ride on the river”, the company said. According to the partners, feedback from passengers and riverfront businesses and employees has been nothing but positive.
The ferries form part of the Chatham Area Transit’s Savannah Belles Ferry fleet moving passengers across the Savannah River. The FEPS battery packs were launched in late 2024 in the original two ferries. All three vessels will be identical builds: 65ft-long and able to transport around 150 passengers.
CAT held a ceremony to celebrate the successful launch of the first two ferries on May 30, 2025. The third hybrid-electric vessel is expected to be delivered to Savannah in late 2026.
Supporting sustainable maritime solutions
The Chatham Area Transit Authority has recently set out to reduce emissions and offer a more sustainable infrastructure for transporting 500,000 passengers a year. To do that, it applied for and received grants to transition its aging fleet to a sustainable solution with hybrid-electric ferries.
“Chatham Area Transit Authority remains at the forefront of advancing excellence in public transportation service delivery,” said Stephanie Cutter, interim executive director/CEO at CAT. “Our priority is to ensure every passenger enjoys a smooth and quiet ride across the Savannah River. We’re proud to introduce another vessel to our fleet that delivers on that promise.”
“We are so excited to be part of a project that is so central to the City of Savannah and where so many of people will be able to experience the benefits of electrification,” said Joel Wollborg, vice president of sales and application engineering at FEPS.
Erik Derecktor, new construction commercial manager of Derecktor Shipyards, said, “The Derecktor team is excited to continue our work with FEPS on Chatham Area Transit’s third hybrid ferry vessel. The XMP 96P lithium-ion battery module’s energy density and reliability are unmatched for maritime use. Just as impressive has been Freudenberg’s customer support. Their partnership was key in securing USCG Marine Safety Center approvals to comply with the CFRs and ASTM requirements. We’re excited to keep building the future of resilient ferry travel together.”
“These ferries are a great application of Freudenberg’s technology to help with the electrification of the hybrid vessels and improve the passenger experience and reducing the environmental impact of the vessels,” Wollborg added.
Honoring notable women of Savannah
The Savannah Belles Ferries are named after prominent women in Savannah’s history. Juliette Gordon Low II’s is named after the founder of the Girl Scouts of America, Juliette Gordon Low.
Susie King Taylor II is named after Susie King Taylor, who was freed from slavery as a teenager, served as a nurse during the Civil War, and eventually opened one of the first schools for former enslaved African Americans in Savannah.
In related news, Incat recently launched battery-electric ship Hull 096 from the Incat shipyard in Hobart, Australia. At 130m in length, Hull 096 is reportedly not only the largest electric ship in the world but also the “largest electric vehicle of its kind ever built”. Read the full story here