First fully-electric transformation of a sightseeing river boat
Working for Vedettes de Paris –a key player in Paris tourism since 1976–, Actemium (VINCI Energies) converted the Paris Trocadéro cruise boat to all-electric. This is the first transformation of its kind of a cruise boat. Electrification of the Paris Trocadéro saves 460 tCO2 eq/year.
- First installation of its kind on a cruise boat
- 460 tCO2 eq saved per year.
The project carried out by Actemium (VINCI Energies) represents a major step forward in the energy transition of French river transport.
The expertise of Actemium teams dedicated to the Marine sector
Actemium’s teams designed and implemented the on-board power plant, enabling zero emissions navigation on the Seine as the boat makes some ten cruises a day. The work carried out was based on technical and regulatory studies for conversion and integration carried out by the Ship-ST naval architecture office.
Right from the design phase, the project teams had to take into account the sizing of the electrical equipment, which had to be adapted to the boat’s operational profile, operating constraints (approximately ten one-hour cruises per day, with passengers disembarking and embarking during rapid recharging), and the strong current of the Seine.
A dry run was then carried out in Brittany to check that the electrical installation was working properly, before the final installation of the equipment on board at the Van Praet shipyard in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, near Paris.
“For several years now, Actemium Marine has been supporting the transformation of the maritime and river sectors towards electric navigation,” explains Olivier Sanquer, Director of Marine Activities at VINCI Energies. “Our expertise in electricity, electronics and marine automation means we can offer the energy solution best suited to the boat’s needs (fishing, freight transport, river cruising, etc.) to ensure simple, reliable operation.”
Adapting the project to the operating constraints of Paris river cruises
Actemium has adapted the operation to a fast charging system (DC charging) to ensure the boat can tour continuously and reduce the charging time between two stops. This solution optimises the size and number of batteries on board.
In addition to building the ship’s electrical plant, Actemium also completely overhauled the wheelhouse, installing a specific monitoring and control system to make piloting the boat easier and safer. Thanks to this system, skippers can concentrate on navigation and forget about the complex electrical architecture required for this type of engine.