San Francisco Bay Ferry has authorised the purchase of the United State's first three battery-electric, zero-emission high-speed passenger ferries.
The three 150-passenger vessels will be the first delivered as a part of SF Bay Ferry’s rapid electric emission free (REEF) ferry program, a project to transition the agency’s fleet to zero-emission propulsion technology. The first ferry is expected to join the SF Bay Ferry fleet in early 2027.
The contract for the three new battery-electric ferries is $46 million. The vessels will operate at 24 knots, powered by dual 625-kilowatt electric motors. The ferries will be 100 feet (31 metres) long with 26-foot (7.9-metre) beams and 5.9-foot (1.8-metre) draughts.
The zero-emission vessels will operate on new SF Bay Ferry routes that connect the rest of the region to two of San Francisco’s fastest growing neighborhoods, Treasure Island and Mission Bay. The contract authorised for award by the board of directors includes an option for a fourth 150-passenger vessel.
Aurora Marine Design (AMD), based in San Diego, led the conceptual design of the vessels as a part of SF Bay Ferry’s REEF integration team. Teknicraft, which has 200 vessel designs in service worldwide, will be the naval architect on this project.
SF Bay Ferry is also currently requesting proposals for the purchase of two 400-passenger high-speed, battery-electric ferries to operate trans-bay routes connecting Oakland and Alameda to San Francisco.
SF Bay Ferry will launch its naming process for the new 150-passenger vessels this spring. The final two diesel ferries purchased by the agency, Karl and Zalophus, are on track to join the fleet in 2025.
SF Bay Ferry has now secured roughly $200 million in funding from local, state and federal agencies to implement its REEF Program. This includes state and federal funding for system planning, new battery-electric vessels and shoreside infrastructure.
In addition to the new battery-electric vessels, the REEF Program includes conversion of four diesel 400-passenger ferries to zero-emission technology, terminal electrification across the system, and expansion and electrification of the agency’s Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility in Alameda.
In November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Port of San Francisco and SF Bay Ferry $55 million to build and electrify the Mission Bay Ferry Landing, electrify the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal and purchase an additional 400-passenger battery-electric ferry.