Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) has been awarded a contract from San Francisco Bay Ferry to design and build two 400-passenger battery-electric ferries.
The 142’1” (43.3-metre) by 34’9” (10.6-metre) Subchapter K vessels will operate at 25 knots, serving central bay routes that connect Oakland and Alameda to San Francisco.
The proposed modular propulsion system features four independent propulsion units, each equipped with a Hydromaster drive, and a scalable energy storage system, including MCS charging units, a DC grid, and advanced DC conversion technology.
“We are honored to partner with SF Bay Ferry on this transformative project, which will set a new standard for sustainable maritime transportation,” said Gavin Higgins, CEO of NBBB.
“Beyond delivering state-of-the-art ferries, this initiative will create jobs, stimulating local economies where they are built and operated."
NBBB has delivered more than 50 new high-speed catamarans over the past four decades, the company said.