Progress 07/01/24 to 02/28/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Our project directly supports the USDA SBIR Topic Area 8.7: Aquaculture, specifically Research Priority 4. Improved Production Systems and Management Strategies for Efficiency and Reduced Environmental Impacts. The Boat Yard established a proof of concept for an electric-powered workboat for the aquaculture industry that improves on-farm efficiency, decreases pollution to marine ecosystems, and satisfies the demand for fossil fuel alternatives. This innovation will make commercial aquaculture in the U.S. more competitive and enhance the technology base necessary for the expansion of the domestic aquaculture industry, the topic area's long-term goal, by reducing operating costs, allowing marine farmers to realize greater profits and increase production. This projectalso aims tosupportNIFA's energy efficiency and alternative and renewable energy program priorities. The resulting electric workboat will be more energy efficient than currently used workboats with internal combustion engines (ICEs), emitting no greenhouse gases (GHG) and diesel particulates. The primary target audience for this project is U.S. aquaculture enterprises who utilzie marine boats for production or distribution. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Given the proprietary nature of this Phase I effort and our potential competitors,the results of the project have not been shared with anyone other than the USDA awards management division. We will release the findings of our Phase II effort, upon commercialization of the first unit. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Task 1 - Use Case Assessment We developed the survey platform to collect specific feedback from aquaculture operators regarding their workboat preferences and operational needs. The survey was distributed both in-person and virtually, focusing on identifying key elements for the design of an electric workboat. The survey covered preferences for boat dimensions, motor horsepower, usability, docking/mooring logistics, and charging infrastructure. The survey was conducted between March 1, 2024, and September 3, 2024. Respondents included aquaculture operators from various farms, such as kelp and shellfish farmers, providing a broad spectrum of insights into the needs of the nearshore aquaculture industry. Survey results provided key data related to workboat dimensions, hull design, ancillary features, battery/charging, docking/mooring, and operational insights.The survey results provide essential guidance on the design requirements for the electric workboat, particularly around hull design, power needs, and usability features.Details of the assessment are provided in the comprehensive report submitted to the NPL. Task 2 - Virtual Prototype Criteria In August and September of 2024, we worked closely with Boksa Marine Design to establish the virtual prototype criteria for the workboat. For the Hull Form, we started the project with a meeting for the mission requirements of the boat since the boat's form follows function. We understood that the boat must plane with minimal load, but it also needs to be able to carry a highly loaded boat and lift with a davit. For these reasons, we went with a landingcraft-style hull. This hull has a planing hull bottom that blends to a wider bow for additional displacement for lifting operations. We went with a 24-foot boat with an overall beam of 8'-6" to meet the road requirements while allowing for maximum utility. These dimensions also fit the prospective customer needs discovered in Task 1. The generic hull design is proprietary and will be released to the public upon commercialization. For propulsion selection and sizing, we worked with Flux Marine (Flux) outboard motors and determined the number of batteries, horsepower, and other electrical components required. We accounted for three batteries, 84 kWh, the power distribution unit (PDU), and the outboard motor from this system when designing the hull. Flux Marine has designed their electric outboard from the ground up, making it the most efficient with the fewest mechanical moving parts in the industry. We worked closely with Flux to establish data regarding powering/performance curves for a more complete picture of how far three batteries will go in Phase I. This work blends into the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis described in Task 4. For the general arrangement, inboard & outboard profiles, we established criteria in a series of design meetings, and was created to capture the initial arrangement. This includes console location, davit location, outboard position, and a preliminary location of the batteries. Task 3 - Scantling Plans for the Novel Hull Informed by Tasks 1 and 2, we developed a new electric workboat hull that has an efficient, costeffective, hydrodynamically optimized, and ergonomic design between September 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024. Scantling calculations based on the necessary regulations were modeled using the software Rhino. Using insight from ongoing research with aquaculture operators to guide the development of a hull design, we optimized the battery placement for weight distribution and accessibility and provided space for workers and their gear. We focused on minimizing drag, whether the boat was empty or loaded with workers and gear, with priority given to range and stability over speed. We included the scantling plans for the hull and deckhouse/console; a one-line diagram for the house electric system; a battery space ventilation diagram; an outboard and inboard profile; and preliminary stability and hydrostatics based on United States Coast Guard (USCG) safe powering and load calculation standards. The plans will be used as a benchmark reference when establishing testing protocols and USCG certification requirements in Task 5. Significant time was spent working with the team to design a structure that is both easy to build and performs well. The structure was designed according to ABS Rules for Building and Classing High-Speed Craft, Part 3; Hull Construction and Equipment. We elected to follow ABS to ensure the safety, structural integrity, and environmental performance of the vessel and to ensure our design could obtain ABS classification, which is often required for commercial vessels. Though this vessel is not going to go through a classification or regulatory review, it is essential to design to a trusted standard. Task 4 - CFD Analysis and Virtual Prototype Boksa worked with The Boat Yard to transform the final design into a set of CAD drawings using AutoCAD software. Updates were made to the weight study, general arrangement, and structural arrangement to keep the battery weight aft and improve the running trim of the vessel. Additionally, the CFD reports were completed and compiled. The CFD reports were sent to the electric outboard manufacturer, Flux Marine. As of January 8, 2025, Flux reported the propulstion expectations, assuming it is a model with three energy storage system (ESS) battery packs (84 kWh total) and a total system weight of 1,500 lbs. The report is proprietary but has been shared with the NPL for verification of completion. Task 5 - Alpha Prototype Hull Fabrication Utilizing the CAD drawings from Task 4, Atlantic Marine Boats, with assistance from The Boat Yard and Boksa, manufactured the alpha prototype hull. This prototype is made of aluminum and meets the requirements of the code of federal regulations (SFR) for boats, including the requirements of 33 CFR 191 Subparts B and C and 33 CFR 183 Subparts B, C, D, and G, and 46 USD 4312, as well as USCG requirements prior to testing. In Phase II of this project, we plan to test the alpha prototype under stricter trialing to inform the design of a beta prototype. The boat size resulted ina 26'x7'6" semi-flat bottom hull design. Detailed drawings, diagrams, and scantling plans have been provided to the NPL. Task 6 - Prototype Trials The Boat Yard performed qualitative testing of the prototype hull with emphasis on how it performs under electric propulsion in comparison to the retrofitted Carolina skiff. We used data from various aquaculture operators, analyzing over 76 boat trips. During the trials, we tested an electric outboard and a traditional ICE motor on the prototype. The average cruising speed during trials was 20 mph, which allows us to compare other key performance indicators. Some key comparitive findings included consumption per hour and mile, operating costs, range, RPM, mechanical HP, kW, throttle, and endurance. Task 7- Customer Survey The Boat Yard used TABA funding to hire Atlantic Corporation (Atlantic) to design and implement a survey of prospective customers for an electric workboat. The goal of this survey was to identify potential customers' purchasing preferences.The survey was 10 questions andlaunched on January 17, 2024via email to small, medium, and large aquaculture operations in coastal Atlantic states. The survey was open for one month, closing on February 15, 2024. We collected 24 responses. Once all data was collected, Atlantic's data analyst analyzed the data to assess purchasing preferences that lead to the highest likelihood of purchasing an electric workboat with various capabilities and at specific price points.In this task, we have gained a more precise projection of market size, and the data will serve as a foundation for customer acquisition in Phase III.

Publications