SW/TCH Maritime (SW/TCH) announced its collaboration with Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZEM), concerning its aim to build and own the ‘Water Go Round’ e-ferry. The project leverages proven technology from partners including BAE Systems and Hydrogenics.
The ferry has room for 84 passengers and is currently being built at the Bay Ship & Yacht shipyard in Alameda, CA using private funding from SW/TCH and a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District), the administrator of the grant.
The $3 million grant comes from California Climate Investments initiative, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment.
In addition, the e-ferry will work as the flagship vessel for SW/TCH’s fleet. The company aspires to partner with existing ferry operators in both San Francisco and NY to provide capital to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission modes of transit.
Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of Bay Area Council and Vice Chair of Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) commented
We’re excited to welcome the SW/TCH team to help create solutions for the Bay Area’s growing transportation and emissions challenges. The launch of the ‘Water Go Round’ e-ferry later this year will be a landmark advancement in Bay Area waterway transportation.
Moreover, the e-ferries will use all-electric propulsion powered either by hydrogen fuel cells or batteries that are charged with shore power, thereby circumventing the need to burn carbon-intensive fossil fuels.
SW/TCH is partnering with Clean Marine Energy (CME) to develop electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure onshore. In the meantime, the latter aims to provide clean fuelling infrastructure to many ports in the US.
Concluding, the e-ferry will be a project of SW/TCH Maritime (SW/TCH), an impact investment platform and Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZEM), a provider of turn-key hydrogen fuel cell power systems for ships.
