First-of-its-kind Hydrogen-powered Ferry In U.S. Gets Approval To Enter Service

SWITCH Maritime, a leading zero-emission maritime vessel developer, was presented with a signed Certificate of Inspection (a COI) by Capt. Taylor Q. Lam, the US Coast Guard’s Sector commander (San Francisco) and Capt. of the Port, for a flagship hydrogen ferry titled the Sea Change.

The auspicious ceremony was conducted on Friday afternoon on the vessel’s bow with many US Coast Guard members and other project stakeholders.

The COI represents the culmination of years of collaboration with the US Coast Guard and a significant milestone for the broader maritime industry, highlighting the viability of carbon-neutral vessels.

Pace Ralli, the CEO of SWITCH, mentioned that the team is grateful for the unwavering support from the US Coast Guard and its partners along the path to successful completion.

This isn’t the finish line but a starting point to build many more.

The vessel can commence its commercial operation with the COI for a 100% zero-emission official public ferry service.

The Sea Change operates on hydrogen fuel cells to power up the all-electric motors for transit distances extending up to 300 nm and speeds up to 15 knots.

The fast-evolving tech offers similar operational features and ranges to diesel-enabled vessels, reducing the demands for shoreside-charging infrastructure required through battery-only vessels.

Following a formal launch event in June, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority will operate the Sea Change through a six-month pilot service.

The credit goes to a public-private sponsorship that includes:

• The Golden State Warriors
• United
• ⁠California Air Resources Board
• ⁠Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District
• The Blue & Gold Fleet

Following the initial demonstration phase, SWITCH will likely put the vessel on a more permanent ferry route.

Alongside Sea Change, SWITCH is advancing new designs for faster and larger ferries for the SF Bay and other significant ferry markets in the US and internationally.

SWITCH is working to accelerate the widespread use of net-zero vessels by taking construction and regulatory risks for operators and allowing its existing operators to lease new vessels upon completion — a hardware-as-a-service model increasingly being used to speed up the energy transition of industrial sectors.

SWITCH solutions are highly flexible and tailored exclusively for vessel operators who need to adhere to emissions regulations.

They offer a more effective and streamlined path to securing a carbon-neutral fleet over time.

Reference: Morning Star

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