Sadie Ann, a custom-designed battery hybrid research vessel designed by Incat Crowther for the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI), has been delivered and is set to enter service. Described by LSRI as ‘a floating classroom’, the new vessel will provide students of all ages with on-water education and research opportunities on Lake Superior and the St. Louis River estuary.
Constructed by Midship Marine in Louisiana, USA, the shipbuilder and Incat Crowther collaborated closely throughout the project. Leveraging its considerable industry experience and regulatory expertise, Incat Crowther played a pivotal role in bolstering the US Coast Guard approval process and supporting the successful certification of the vessel.
Certified and approved under Subchapter T to carry 49 passengers and 8 crew, Sadie Ann features a range of educational facilities including wet and dry laboratories that can also be configured to a traditional classroom set-up. The vessel also features a moon pool, a large 294-square-foot working deck fitted with an A-frame and dual dive platforms for sample collection and on-water research. The upper deck features a large classroom adjacent to the pilot house, and two survey winches for use with the stern A-frame.
Sadie Ann has been designed to support LSRI’s sustainability and stewardship commitments. As a parallel hybrid, the vessel can operate independently on battery power, via diesel engines, or through a combination of technologies. This technological package sees two John Deere diesel engines paired with twin Esco Power electric motors and an 86kWh battery pack – providing LSRI with operational reliability and flexibility.
Matthew TenEyck, LSRI Research Center Director, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see our vision for a future-proofed, sustainable and industry-leading floating classroom come to life in the form of Sadie Ann, which provides our students something few other educational institutions can offer – a research vessel designed and built specifically for the unique environment of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River estuary.”
Grant Pecoraro, Managing Director, North America, Incat Crowther said: “Sadie Ann is now ready to hit the water, providing students with a special educational experience to enhance their understanding of the freshwater marine environment neighbouring the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The delivery of Sadie Ann is another example of how Incat Crowther’s multi-disciplinary expertise can play a critical role in achieving the client’s mission. This project has involved Incat Crowther’s design, build and regulatory approval expertise, with effective multi-stakeholder collaboration also being one of the keys to the success of this project.”