The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) officially announced the funding of $1.5 million in order to boost the conversion of Washington’s State Ferry vessel from diesel fueled to hybrid-electric power one.
Specifically, the above-mentioned ferry, is one of the two vessels used in the Seattle-Bainbridge Island Ferry Service.
For the records, the ferry conversion funding is part of a a $7.5 million granting package for nine Marine Highway Projects in nine different states.
This $7.5 million investment will improve our country’s vital fuel-efficient waterway transportation system, which makes an important contribution to exports and economic growth.
…said Elaine Chao, the US Secretary of Transportation.
Moreover, MARAD first introduced the nine projects back in July 2019 while the funding information were announced on 6 January 2020 by the US Secretary of Transportation.
Concluding, Washington State Ferries (WSF) has started focusing on converting its vessels to hybrid electric propulsion ones several months ago. In September, the company announced its new hybrid-electric ferry building program, highlighting the constructing of five hybrid electric ferries by 2028.
