San Francisco launches revolutionary electric ferries for environmentally friendly mobility!

San Francisco launches revolutionary electric ferries for environmentally friendly mobility!

The first all-electric high-speed ferries in the United States will soon be commissioned for the San Francisco Bay Ferry. Loud Econews The company All American Marine (AAM) has placed an order for ferries that can accommodate 150 passengers. This innovative project is part of San Francisco Bay Ferry's Rapid Electric Emission Free (REEF) Ferry Program, with the goal of converting the entire fleet to zero-emission propulsion technologies.

The new ferries will serve routes between Treasure Island and Mission Bay all the way to downtown San Francisco. Wärtsilä is responsible for the development of the ship and loading systems. This includes a complete electric drive system, which includes, among other things, an energy and performance management system (EPMS), an integrated automation system (IAS) and the entire battery and motor technology. Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for 2026, while the first ferry is expected to enter service in early 2027.

Technical details about the ferries

The first electric ferries will be constructed according to US Coast Guard (USCG) Subchapter T standards. They measure 30 meters in length, 7.9 meters in width and have a depth of 1.8 meters. Her operating speed will be 24 knots, making her one of the fastest environmentally friendly options in water transport.

The REEF Ferry Program aims to not only build these new ferries, but also transform existing vessels. In particular, the conversion of 400-passenger Hydrus-class ferries to battery-electric models will take place. In total, the program provides for the electrification of up to 11 additional small or medium-sized ferries, as shown on sanfranciscobayferry.com is explained.

Progress in zero-emission shipping

The initiative to develop zero-emission ferries is not alone. On an international scale, the EU-wide TrAM project relies on modularization to make the construction of such ships faster and cheaper. This technology enables the use of reusable building blocks, which makes shipbuilding more efficient, as Fraunhofer IEM explains in a press release. By using model-based systems engineering, development processes can be optimized, which enables savings of up to 70 percent of development time and 25 percent of manufacturing costs.

The success of these projects, such as the Medstraum ferry in Norway, demonstrates the potential of emission-free shipping. Even though Medstraum has been operating since summer 2022, there is growing interest in sustainable solutions in the industry. The integration of water and land mobility in mobility concepts is particularly considered crucial in order to overcome the challenges of urban transport infrastructure.

For the future of sustainable transport solutions, it will be crucial to continue investing in innovative technologies and infrastructure to make mobility more environmentally friendly.