By
Laura Hyde |
Digital ship designer Incat Crowther and US shipbuilder Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) will design, build and deliver two new electric ferries for San Francisco Bay Ferry.
Both 43-metre ferries will have capacity for 400 passengers and 60 bicycles, and will operate on busy commuter routes to connect Oakland, Alameda, Seaplane Lagoon and Harbor Bay to San Francisco. They will feature a main deck with seating for 150 passengers, including space for up to six wheelchairs, kiosk with bar-style seating, and a storage area on the aft deck for bicycles. The upper deck will offer seating for 204 passengers and an additional 48 passengers in a covered outdoor deck.
The ferries will be capable of speeds up to 25 knots and, according to Incat Crowther, will be “amongst the most technologically advanced all-electric ferries” operating anywhere in the world. It is hoped the vessels will help San Francisco Bay Ferry to significantly reduce its emissions. Incat Crowther and NBBB will ensure the ferries feature a modular propulsion system made up of four independent azimuth propulsion units from Hydromaster and the electrical integration will be provided by Wärtsilä North America. Charging infrastructure will include Megawatt Charging System units, a DC grid and DC conversion technology, as well as specifically designed electric charging floats to allow recharging during passenger embarkation and disembarkation.
“Incat Crowther is looking forward to partnering with San Francisco’s Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) as it enters a new era of low and zero-emission public transport,” said Dan Mace, technical manager for Incat Crowther. “We have a proven track record of designing bespoke low and zero-emission ferry and infrastructure solutions for mass public transport operators around the world.”
The build and delivery timeline for the new vessels, which will be built at the NBBB Washington shipyard, is yet to be released.
“We are honoured to partner with San Francisco 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 and stimulate local economies where they are built and operated. The project will also reinforce California’s leadership in zero-emission transit solutions.”