Wärtsilä becomes a part of the first U.S. zero-emission high-speed ferries project

Under a newly signed strategic partnership agreement, Wärtsilä is set to provide its Fleet Electrification and Systems Integrator Services for a project to build the first zero-emission high-speed ferries in the United States.

The fully electric vessels will be built for the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), which operates the local ferry system. The project is part of WETA’s Rapid Electric Emission-Free (REEF) Ferry Program – a phased decarbonization of high-speed, high-capacity ferry service in the San Francisco Bay.

Wärtsilä’s track record with hybrid and zero-emission ferry projects, as well as its expertise as an integrator for the delivery of hybrid and fully electric propulsion solutions, were key factors in the company being selected as a project partner.

After completing the conceptual phase, WETA will move on to the initial construction phase of a multi-vessel program. This phase will involve the building of three smaller ferries with a capacity of approximately 150 passengers each and two larger ferries capable of carrying at least 300 passengers. The construction of the first electric-powered vessel is scheduled to begin before this year ends, with commercial operations expected to launch in 2025.

Wärtsilä has already been working with operators in Europe to cut their ferry emissions. A new version of the company’s 31DF engine has been proven to further reduce methane emissions. While operating on LNG, this new technology can reduce methane emissions on a weighted average by 41% more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which already has the lowest emission levels on the market.

The new version, which is applied on one of the four engines aboard Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia ferry, has already helped the Finnish-Swedish ferry operator to further reduce the Aurora Botnia’s methane emissions by 10%. This latest collaboration forms part of a long-term partnership between Wärtsilä and Wasaline to reduce emissions aboard the Aurora Botnia, the world’s most environmentally friendly RoPax ferry today.