New Staten Island ferries equipped with Voith Schneider propulsion

(YORK, Pa.) — The Staten Island Ferry is one of the most famous ferry services in the world. Approximately 22 million passengers a year use these ferries that connect Staten Island and Lower Manhattan. Two of the double-ended ferries are to be replaced with new models over the next few years, which will be equipped with the latest generation of Voith Schneider propellers.

As part of a modernization program, the New York City Department of Transportation, which owns the ferries, will decommission two older ferries and commission three new ones. Their design principle matches the successful design of the previous vessels. However, the technology of the double-ended ferries built by Eastern Shipbuilding is state of the art. Propulsion and control of each new ferry is provided by two VSP36RV6 ECS/285-2 Voith Schneider propellers (VSP).

Each ferry is equipped with four diesel engines that are arranged amidships. Each VSP is driven by two engines supported by four fill-controlled VTC 1150 TPZSRL turbo couplings from Voith. When drained, the engines can rotate without load, i.e. to enable gentle warming up of the propulsion systems. A single transmission shaft then transmits the engine power to the VSP. In addition, Voith Turbo has also supplied each ferry with electronic controlling systems.

For more information, visit www.voith.com.

By Professional Mariner Staff