Ampcontrol and Steber launch hybrid boat

A 43-foot hybrid boat being developed by a collaboration between electrical and electronics company Ampcontrol, boat builder Steber International and the University of Newcastle, has been launched on the Manning River, Taree, in regional NSW.

Ampcontrol Engineering Manager Steve Mitchell said the successful deployment was a result of a partnership between industry, government and the education sector.

Mitchall said: “Marine technology was previously outside of our area of focus as a business.

However through collaboration…we have been able to de-risk our research and development activities in this area to pave the way in developing commercially viable hybrid diesel electric power systems for marine vessels.”

Steber International, which also specialises in industrial composite technology, originally approached Ampcontrol in 2017 to assist in the development of a prototype for a hybrid police boat.

The goal was to create a power-efficient, quiet, and environmentally friendly boat without compromising on the cruising range.

Steber International General Manager Alan Steber said the project continues to show vast potential across the entire marine sector.

Steber said: “Hybrid power sources for marine applications are being developed across the globe. We are proudly playing our part, working in partnership with industry leaders and innovators in Regional NSW.”

The research and development effort received early support from the Federal Government in the form of two AusIndustry Innovation Connection grants.

This funding was used to develop a smaller 22-foot prototype hybrid boat which was launched in 2021. The learnings from this work were fundamental to the development of the Hybrid Power and Propulsion system installed in the recently launched vessel.

The technology was recently published in a research paper titled Hybrid Propulsion System for Marine Vessels based on a DC Microgrid by Galina Mirzaeva, Professor at the School of Engineering, the University of Newcastle.

The paper was co-authored by Dmitry Miller, Product Manager- Power Systems at Ampcontrol, Steve Mitchell, Engineering Manager at Ampcontrol and Alan Steber, General Manager and Director of Steber International.

The next phase of the project will be to add a powerful diesel generator which will electrically couple into the electrical power system to ensure that the boat has the same operating range as its full diesel counterparts.

Picture: Ampcontrol