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ABB Marine & Ports Updates

United States Passenger Ferry Grant 

On August 5, 2021 the US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released the details of their Passenger Ferry Grant Program. Details of the program can be found here: Passenger Ferry Grant Program - Section 5307 | FTA (dot.gov)

The total available funds in FTA’s FY21 budget for this program are $38M with $4M specifically available only for low or zero emission ferries or ferries using batteries for fuel cells and the infrastructure to support. This is a competitive award process and these funds are available for use for 5 years after the FY in which they were awarded. 
If you are planning any ferry new build activities, repowers or retrofits, terminal renovations or new terminal construction within the next five years and your organization meets the criteria established in FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program, I highly recommend you consider submitting an application for these funds. The application deadline for this program is October 5, 2021.

As always, our team is available to support. Please contact Bruce Strupp bruce.strupp@us.abb.com  if you have any questions or require assistance.

CYBERSECURITY webinar 

As vessels become more electric, digital, and connected than ever before, it is of vital importance that we empower seafarers with reliable solutions that are cyber secure. ABB works closely with designers as well as shipowners, shipyards, and classification societies to enhance cyber resilience of ships and ensure they fulfill both International Maritime Organization (IMO) and state specific requirements. In this exclusive webinar, we will explore how industry leaders and designers can collaboratively support the industry to identify threats while ensuring safety and reliability of the vessel crew and passengers.

This webinar will be presented by Bruce Strupp and Ahmad Hassen. 

Electrifying Tugs – eWolf is leading the way

By now you probably have heard the buzz. Selected by Crowley, ABB will deliver an integrated electric propulsion system and advanced vessel control technology for Crowley’s pioneering eWolf tug, built for sustainable and safe operations at the Port of San Diego. Our team is excited to be part of this project which is leading the way in electrification of tugs across Americas. 

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Meet the team!

Meet the team – Peter Bryn

Peter joined the ABB Marine & Ports Americas Marine Systems team in 2018 with a passion for ABB’s goal to decarbonize the maritime industry. He has greatly enjoyed working with the ABB team, and is particularly proud of having supported both the Washington State Ferries project and the recently-announced Crowley e-Tug project , as well as having the opportunity to testify on behalf of ABB to the US Congress on zero emission marine transport.

Indeed, Peter has committed his life to solving climate change since graduating in 2007. He started his career and spent eight years with ExxonMobil's marine company in Houston, where he came to appreciate the challenges and opportunities of getting to zero emissions, as well as the intricacies of shipbuilding – something that has proven very useful at ABB!

In 2013, Peter became very active with Citizens’ Climate Lobby , an organization that empowers citizens to advocate and work with Congress to put a price on carbon emissions, including full time for two years following his resignation from ExxonMobil.

In 2018, Peter and his partner Sandy took a year off to travel the world, visiting 21 countries over nine months. Peter and Sandy’s love for travel to both cities and parks perhaps explains their commitment to helping solve the world’s biggest environmental problems. In late 2019, just in time for COVID lockdowns, Peter and Sandy relocated with ABB to Seattle to solidify ABB’s presence in the area. They left behind friends and Sandy’s family in Houston, including Booger, their “foster fail” dog that Sandy’s parents adopted, and they see whenever they’re back visiting!

Peter grew up in NJ and has a BS in Naval Architecture/Marine Engineering from Webb Institute and an MS in Transportation from MIT. You can connect with Peter  MIT. You can connect with Peter directly at peter.bryn@us.abb.com or through LinkedIn.