It’s Tuesday, September 7, and a U.S. shipbuilder has launched the nation’s first hydrogen-powered ferry.
As part of the ongoing effort to decarbonize the maritime industry, a Bellingham, Washington-based shipyard last month christened the Sea Change, a ferry powered by hydrogen fuel cells that produce no direct emissions. The 70-foot, 75-passenger vessel, which is slated to begin operating in San Francisco Bay by the end of the year, is the nation’s first hydrogen-powered commercial ferry.
The Sea Change, which was built by vessel manufacturer All American Marine, is powered by fuel cells containing enough compressed hydrogen gas to travel continuously for roughly 300 nautical miles at a cruising speed of about 18 miles per hour. When the vessel is idling or traveling at low speeds, excess electricity generated by the fuel cells is stored in an onboard battery system, which can then discharge energy to the electric propulsion system when higher speeds are required. Most hydrogen fuel produced today is derived from natural gas and coal, but proponents hope that clean hydrogen made from water and renewable electricity will become more available in the future.
The ferry represents an important step in the maritime industry’s transition toward cleaner means of propulsion.
“The really great thing about this process is the only byproduct is hot water,” said All American Marine president Ron Wille in a recent interview with KUOW, the public radio station for the Puget Sound region. “Being able to put a boat out to sea to operate where it’s going to create zero emissions is certainly revolutionary.”
The Smog
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