According to the Coast Guard Commercial Vessel Compliance Office, the U.S. passenger fleet currently consists of 6,758 active vessels, including a wide range of vessel types, such as excursion boats, charter fishing vessels, ferries, cruise ships, and water taxis.
While most passenger vessel types were discussed at this year’s MariTrends Conference in Savannah, Ga., hosted by the Passenger Vessel Association, many sessions focused on the increasing shift toward fully-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems in the ferry sector, a trend that was explored in the February issue of WorkBoat magazine.
A presentation on San Francisco Bay Water Emergency Transportation Authority’s (WETA) Rapid Electric Emission-Free Ferry (REEF) Program, led by WETA executive director Seamus Murphy, outlined the agency’s efforts to decarbonize its fleet and transition to zero-emission vessels, exploring the decision-making process and phased implementation approach.
“I’m going to talk a little bit about the experience that we had with our efforts to decarbonize the San Francisco Bay ferry system from an operator standpoint, how we thought about planning this, why we made decisions we did along the way, what we can look forward to,” he said.
San Francisco Bay Ferry operates as a public transit system, and its “zero-emission transition” has secured $252 million in public funding: $131.9 million from federal agencies, $76.9 million from the state of California, and $43 million from regional programs. Murphy noted that the ferry system also has an emergency-response function, transporting first responders into San Francisco or evacuating people from the city if needed. The service is contracted to Blue and Gold Fleet, which operates seven routes, eight terminals, and 18 vessels, with two additional vessels currently under construction at Mavrik Marine, La Conner, Wash.
Murphy noted the Mavrik-built additions will be the last diesel-powered vessels to join the fleet. “Everything that we add from this point, moving forward, will be zero-emission,” he said. WETA expects the 320-passenger vessels to be delivered in April and June of this year.
WETA has already implemented Tier 4 diesel engines, surpassing California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. However, new regulations require routes under three nautical miles to be zero-emission by January 2026. With many new developments along the Bay Area waterfront requiring water transit, compliance with these regulations is crucial. “If we want to operate a new vessel on a route under three nautical miles, it must be zero-emission,” Murphy said.
The agency’s zero-emission plan consists of four phases. With current funding, phase one includes three 150-passenger battery-electric vessels, to be built by All American Marine (AAM), Bellingham, Wash., and up to three 400-passenger vessels awaiting contracts that are expected to be awarded in March.
The AAM-built 96'×26'×6' aluminum catamarans will be powered by two Hydromaster Series E L-drive azimuth thrusters, each rated at 625 kW (838 bhp), with the first vessel delivery expected in early 2027. WETA decided on Wärtsilä for the vessel’s electrification and systems integration, and Echandia will supply the battery systems from its new production facility in Marysville, Wash. The 13.8-ton Subchapter T vessel is projected to reach a speed of 24 knots. “We decided to take our time and spend about a year with Wärtsilä designing this system so that it would be well-integrated,” Murphy said.
Phase two will require additional funding, and phases three and four will depend on future energy storage advancements, Murphy said.
Four universal charging floats are also in development. WETA plans to award that contract in June 2025. Charging infrastructure will feature rapid megawatt chargers and grid-connected battery banks to ensure consistent power availability. A lack of waterfront available for land-based charging infrastructure forced WETA to turn to charging floats, Murphy said. REEF program funding includes $75 million allocated to upgrading waterfront power infrastructure to supply 50 MW across multiple locations. “Hopefully that’s a one-time investment, and we can add enough to the waterfront to allow our service to grow over time,” Murphy said. The remaining funds will be used to procure and construct new battery-electric vessels and charging infrastructure.
The agency is also evaluating alternative propulsion technologies. In 2023, WETA leased and operated the Sea Change, a 100% hydrogen-powered passenger vessel built by All American Marine and owned by Switch Maritime. The six-month pilot program provided insights into hydrogen’s viability. “We learned the most about how ripe hydrogen is from a supply chain standpoint,” Murphy noted. Challenges included cost fluctuations, limited local hydrogen production, and the lack of green hydrogen. “It’s absolutely going to have to be green for us to be able to operate a vessel like this and call it a zero-emission service,” he added.
Murphy offered hydrofoil technology as another potential solution for energy efficiency. The agency is modeling smaller hydrofoil vessels, similar to those developed by Ireland’s Artemis Technologies, he said. While hydrofoils could reduce energy consumption and operating costs, Murphy acknowledged that regulatory approvals from the U.S. Coast Guard would be necessary.
San Francisco Bay Ferry plans to continue testing new routes and technologies through pilot programs. “We’re planning to invest a significant amount of funds every year to be able to support this effort,” Murphy said. The goal is to integrate alternative propulsion methods while maintaining customer satisfaction and service reliability.
NORTHEAST
Eastern Shipbuilding Group delivered the 303'×52' ferry Long Island in December to the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co., a subsidiary of McAllister Towing. The passenger and auto ferry will provide service between Bridgeport, Conn., and Port Jefferson, N.Y., across Long Island Sound.
“The Long Island has been engineered with the environment in mind. Technologically advanced Tier 4 engines will provide reliable propulsion with reduced emissions,” Fred Hall, Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co. vice president and general manager, told WorkBoat. “In 2024, the company took over 500,000 vehicles off the highways on both sides of Long Island Sound thus becoming a substantial and integral part of transportation solutions in our area,” Hall said.
Designed by Gilbert Associates, Braintree, Mass., the ferry is powered by twin EPA Tier 4 Electro-Motive Diesel 12 ME 23B diesel engines, each producing 3,000 hp at 900 rpm and driving Reintjes WAF 3445 3.083:1 reduction gears delivering power to fixed-pitch propellers. Two BERG MTT113 FPL bowthrusters, each driven by John Deere 6135 AFM85 diesels rated at 500 hp at 2,000 rpm are coupled to Reintjes WVS 234 1.50:1 reduction gears. Ship’s service power comes from four additional John Deere 6135 AFM85 diesel generators, producing 300 kW at 1,800 rpm. Steering controls are by Jastram.
Senesco Marine, North Kingstown, R.I., is nearing delivery on a pair of hybrid ferries — one for Maine State Ferry Service, and the other for Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD or Casco Bay Lines), Portland, Maine.
“They are the first-ever hybrid ferries in the Northeast,” said Senesco Marine president, Ted Williams.
In November, the shipyard christened and launched the 154'×38' Capt. Almer Dinsmore, the first hybrid electric-diesel ferry in the state, capable of carrying 250 passengers and 24 cars between Rockland and Vinalhaven.
Gilbert Associates, designed the Dinsmore, which features a BAE Systems HybriGen power and propulsion system, with a pair of 600-hp Caterpillar C-18 diesels, 150-hp electric boost motors, and two Caterpillar C9.3 generators.
Senesco Marine is also finalizing a 599-passenger double-ended hybrid-electric ferry, Battery Steele, designed by Elliott Bay Design Group. The 164' passenger-vehicle ferry can operate using a diesel-electric system, a fully battery-powered system, or a combination of both. Battery Steele will replace an existing diesel-powered ferry, the Machigonne II, a 36-year-old 122'×37' passenger-vehicle ferry that services Peaks Island in Casco Bay. CBITD estimates an annual reduction of 800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions with the hybrid-electric propulsion system.
WEST COAST
Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced in October that three shipbuilders have expressed interest in constructing their five new 160'×53'×7.5' hybrid-electric ferries. The selected shipbuilders include Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash., Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., and Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Philadelphia. No construction contract had been awarded as WorkBoat went to press, though ABB was awarded a contract to serve as the propulsion single-source vendor for the five new ferries.
WSF said the hybrid-electric ferries are part of the company’s $3.98 billion Ferry System Electrification plan. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 76% by 2040 and achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Most recently, All American Marine was awarded a 108'×32'6" hybrid passenger vessel contract by Harbor Breeze Cruises. The monohull aluminum vessel will provide harbor tours, whale watch cruises, and dinner events in and around California’s Los Angeles and Long Beach port complex.
The vessel will feature twin MAN D2862 EPA Tier 4 engines that drive fixed-pitch propellers via a remote-mounted Reinjtes gearbox provided by Karl Senner LLC. Its propulsion system will include twin 250kW electric-drive traction motors powered by a 588-kW BorgWarner energy storage system (ESS), which will provide an all-electric, zero-emissions mode for harbor tour operations. The Teknicraft-designed monohull exceeds U.S. EPA Tier 4 emissions requirements via selective catalytic reduction and a diesel particulate filter coupled to a parallel hybrid battery propulsion system, supplied by ABB.
FEDERAL AID
In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced grants totaling nearly $300 million from former President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law intended to expand and modernize the nation’s ferry systems.
In total, FTA awarded 18 grants in 14 states, which the administration noted “will support projects such as replacing old vessels with electric ships that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and improve air quality, expanding fleets, and building new terminals and docks. Of the 18 projects, eight are receiving federal support for environmentally friendly propulsion technologies, such as electric ferries and charging equipment.”
The administration hailed the law as the largest investment in public transit in the nation’s history, “speeding the adoption of low- and zero-emission technology.”
