Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZEM) announced the beginning of construction of the ‘Water-Go-Round’, the first-of-its-kind hydrogen fuel cell boat, representing a global paradigm for the advantages of hydrogen fuel cells in the commercial maritime industry. When launched in mid-2019 the Water-Go-Round will be the first fuel cell vessel in the US and the first commercial fuel cell ferry in the world.
The 70-foot catamaran is being built by the US-based Bay Ship & Yacht Co. of Alameda, with construction expected to be complete by September 2019. In June 2018, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) announced that Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZEM), had been awarded a $3m grant to build the first hydrogen fuel cell ferry in the Bay area.
Funding for the CARB grant comes from California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Today’s ceremony symbolizes more than the start of construction of a single vessel, it marks the start of a new movement in the maritime community. Operators all over the world are seeing that hydrogen fuel cell electric drivetrains can provide both environmental and economic advantages. Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine and our partners are proud to be selected by California to showcase this aboard the Water-Go-Round,
…said Dr. Joseph W. Pratt, CEO of GGZEM.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is administering the project, alongside other partners including Bay Ship & Yacht Co., BAE Systems, Hydrogenics, Red and White Fleet, Incat Crowther, Hexagon Composites, the Port of San Francisco, and Sandia National Laboratories.
Upon Water-Go-Round is launched, it will be operated for three months in San Francisco Bay, to enable Sandia National Laboratories to independently assess performance and gather data for CARB to determine marine suitability of the technology.
Red and White Fleet intends to use the Water-Go-Round as the first of several vessels with GGZEM integrations in order to meet their commitment to a build a 100% zero emission fleet by 2025.
The commercial maritime sector contributes more to global CO2 emissions than every automobile in in the world making this a critical step in reducing CO2 emissions, pollution and protecting our environment.
