Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC awarded Siemens Energy a contract to supply power, propulsion, and control systems along with Siemens Energy?s battery storage technology for two research vessels. The new ships, named the Oceanographer and Discoverer, are being acquired by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and will support various missions, including general oceanographic research and exploration, climate and ocean ecosystem studies, and worldwide ocean survey and data collection. Siemens Energy will equip both ships with SiSHIP Blue Drive PlusC? advanced diesel-electric propulsion systems and BlueVault? Battery Storage Solutions. The combination of technologies will enable additional fuel savings and emissions reductions by allowing NOAA to optimize loading on variable speed diesel engines. It will also reduce maintenance associated with the engines. Compared to vessels with traditional fixed-speed diesel engines of similar size and operating profile, it?s estimated that the technology provided by Siemens Energy will lead to fuel savings of 15,000 gallons per year for each vessel ? resulting in a reduction of approximately 5,700 tons of CO2. To offset this amount would require planting more than 370,000 trees. The two NOAA vessels are scheduled to enter operation in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Each will host a crew of 20 and can accommodate up to 28 scientists.