Electric Ships Past, Present, and Future [Technology Leaders]

We all see the increasing electrification of everyday things around us, from hybrid-electric and all-electric cars to the handheld devices we carry. What few people outside of the industry realize is that there has been a similar electrification occurring at sea on merchant ships, offshore platforms, and warships. Unlike cars and airplanes, few people use ships today, with the exception of the people who take vacations on cruise ships. This article attempts to provide both a look at the past and a glimpse into the future of shipboard power and propulsion systems, an arena that has dynamically changed and will continue to change in the coming decades.