With a little over three weeks to go until Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America, the maritime industry’s premier event dedicated to electrification, hybridization and improved sustainability, Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International editor-in-chief Matt Ross selects just a few of his speaker highlights from the upcoming Electric & Hybrid Marine Conference North America. The conference takes place alongside the exhibition, which will be staged at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago on August 20 & 21, 2025. Click here to view the full program and book your conference pass here.
Future of shipbuilding and ship electrification in the United States
Galen Hon, office of environment and innovation, United States Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration
MR: If you had to pick the best person to give you an overview of the US marine sector, then the DoT’s Galen Hon would be it. Look for him to outline the situation as it currently stands, and what lies ahead for shipbuilding in the US – specifically with regards to electrification. There’s also a panel discussion afterwards, featuring experts from some of the industry’s leading experts.
August 20, morning session, Theater Two
Electrifying without Washington: winning incentives in municipal waterways
Nick Schoeps, chief technical officer, Photon Marine
MR: Relationships with state bodies and municipalities are key to successful electrification projects. Nick Schoeps will discuss Photo Marine’s US$7m project in Washington state, modernizing port infrastructure and deploying Photon-powered vessels. He’ll also share insights on California’s CARB/CORE program.
August 20, afternoon session, Theater One
Challenges of integration – Expert Panel Q&A
Ed Schwarz, head of marine new unit sales for US and Canada, Siemens Energy (chair)
MR: This panel lineup is about as comprehensive as it gets. Answering questions on the obstacles inherent to integration will be Joel Thigpen (general manager, marine new build sales, Wärtsilä), Klaus Meyersieck (global product manager, Twin Disc), Shawn Balding (chief operating officer, Canal Marine & Industrial) and Timo Vesala (VP of sales, Americas, ABB). This panel represents an unmissable opportunity to pick the brains of some of the best in the business.
August 20, afternoon session, Theater Two
Bridging the gap: advancing battery-powered high-speed passenger ferries
Will Ayers, chief electrical engineer, Elliott Bay Design Group; Joe Hudspeth, director of sales, Elliott Bay Design Group; Seamus Murphy, executive director, San Francisco Bay Ferry
MR: This presentation will examine the advances and hurdles in the electrification of high-speed passenger ferries. It’ll cover everything from increasing speed and capacities, evolving battery chemistries, energy density and charge rates, to lessons learned from past incidents and what these mean for safety considerations.
August 21, morning session, Theater One
Shore power and port infrastructure – Expert Panel Q&A
Lucian Go, environmental program manager, maritime decarbonization, Port of Seattle (moderator)
MR: Another expert panel, but this time focusing on shoreside developments -after all, all the vessel developments in the world won’t matter if the land-side infrastructure isn’t there to support them. Hear from experts including Martha Hart (project manager/sustainability lead, KPFF Consulting Engineers), Bjørn Sturle Hillestad (VP sales and marketing, Zinus), Jim Andriotis (VP NPD & innovation, Cavotec), Rainer Altmeppen (segment leader, electrification, Wabtec Charging & Power Transfer), and Alan Kwoo (port technologies manager, Igus). These guys know their stuff, so this is an opportunity not to be missed.
August 21, morning session, Theater Two
