Epropulsion Powers France’S First 40-Meter Fully Electric Catering Cruise Ship On The Seine

ePropulsion, a global leader in marine electric propulsion systems and services, announced today it has been selected as the exclusive propulsion partner for Bleu Seine; France's first 40-meter, fully electric catering cruise ship. Designed for daily operations on the Seine River, the vessel represents a major step forward in sustainable passenger transport on one of Europe's most iconic waterways.

With space for up to 130 guests, Bleu Seine will host daily lunch and dinner cruises. The ship's all-electric architecture was developed in collaboration with ePropulsion, who is serving as the sole system integrator. The company designed and delivered the entire propulsion and energy system in-house, ensuring seamless integration, maximum efficiency and uncompromising reliability.

At the core of Bleu Seine is a fully integrated electric drive system powered by five lithium battery clusters – three dedicated to propulsion, and two powering onboard hospitality systems. Each operates independently for continuous uptime, even in the rare case of a fault. This modular approach reflects ePropulsion's commitment to safety, resilience and performance.

Key system features include:

Three high-efficiency permanent magnet motors

Fully steerable thrusters with 360° vector thrust control

Redundant, liquid-cooled power electronics with bi-directional converters

Real-time battery monitoring with advanced system protection

The system is fully compliant with the latest ES-TRIN standards for inland waterway passenger vessels.

From thermal aerosol fire suppression built into the battery packs to near-silent thrusters and intelligent load balancing, every aspect of the vessel's design has been optimized for clean, quiet operation. The ship's AC and DC distribution networks are designed with full redundancy, while rapid shore charging enables a complete recharge in just two hours, making zero-emission cruising both feasible and efficient.

“Every component was selected, tested, and refined to meet the high demands of daily commercial service,” said Ricky Cole, Technical Director at ePropulsion. “Our liquid-cooled propulsion and energy systems represent the cutting edge of marine innovation.”

Bleu Seine represents ePropulsion's first deployment in the large passenger vessel segment – a significant advancement in the company's commercial portfolio. The project highlights ePropulsion's system integration expertise and ability to scale modular electric propulsion for high-demand, real-world operations. With over 50,000 electric propulsion units and battery systems delivered globally, the company continues to set new benchmarks for performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance in commercial marine electrification.

From luxury cruise ships on the Seine to high-traffic ferries in Asia and coastal workboats worldwide, ePropulsion is delivering high-performance electric propulsion systems that meet the demands of global commercial fleets.

Source: ePropulsion