Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Infinitely Sustainable, Tidal Powered, Lynn Electric Ferry...


It has come to my attention that The City of Lynn ( in partnership with The State of Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council ) has invested in a proposed commuter ferry, to run between Lynn and Boston Harbor.

There seem to be many questions regarding the profitability of said ferry.


Lynn is involved in a huge waterfront development project which hopes to provide the ridership, but this is still several years down the road.


The issue is how to maintain the ferry service during early stages of ridership.


Lynn EDIC boss, and major ferry proponent, Jim Cowdell, has hinted that State Subsidies are the solution.


The Lynn Maritime Future Center has a better idea.


I've been proposing that Lynn partner with GE to develop Tidal Electric Generation at the outflow of The Harbor.

Let's start with a prototype tidal generator that delivers power to a charging station located at the ferry dock.

GE develops a battery powered engine for the ferry.

All of this can be done via retrofits using available technology.

With adaptation and evolution the concept of a tidal powered electric ferry becomes doable in very short order.

The ferry powers up every time it returns to Lynn. 

As an added bonus, electric motors with tidally recharged batteries become the choice for ferries everywhere.

GE and The City of Lynn enter into a new phase of their long partnership.

This is the perfect situation because ferries always go point to point.

If batteries can last the round trip they can be recharged.

The vessel is large enough that the weight of battery packs is not an issue.

They can be placed low in the hull as ballast.

With power provided by tidal generation, fuel costs become insignificant.

This makes operating ferry service during the development stage feasible.

On the Green front, Tidal Electric Generation utilizes the power of The Ocean but does not use up anything.

And, as another added bonus, the ocean and tides are a natural resource on the upswing.

Sea level rise means that tides, unlike petroleum, coal, and natural gas, are not in danger of running out any time soon.

The Lynn Maritime Future Center can make The Infinitely Sustainable, Tidal Powered, Lynn Electric Ferry into the Global Investment Attraction required by the City of Lynn to put the waterfront development plan over the top.

This can be shown as workable and the infrastructure can be under way within a year if positive minded people got together.

GE would be smart to say yes.

It would open a whole new industry for them.

Turbines and electric motors are right up their alley. 

Stay Tuned...more to follow RE how to, why, etc...