Washington State Ferries (WSF) will rebuild and modernize our fleet, the largest in the country, by transitioning to hybrid-electric power by 2040. As the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions among Washington state agencies, WSF burns approximately nineteen million gallons of diesel fuel to support nearly twenty million passengers every year. Transitioning to a hybrid-electric fleet is necessary to reduce emissions, ensure resiliency, and save millions in fuel costs.
Timeline overview
2020-2040
Major project status
Construction
Funding
$1.68 billion secured funding | $6 billion total estimated cost
Major project alerts
WSF published procurement details for the SR 519/Seattle Trm -Terminal Electrification design-build contract.
WSF aspires to a reliable and emission-free ferry fleet by 2050. To get there, we will expand the fleet by building up to 16 new hybrid-electric vessels, adding shore charging at up to 16 terminals, and converting some vessels to hybrid-electric power.
The Ferry System Electrification Program is estimated to cost $6 billion. $1.68 billion is currently funded, including $1.03 billion from Move Ahead Washington and $599 million from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA).
Terminal electrification
We’re partnering with regional electrical utilities to add shoreside vessel charging infrastructure and energy storage systems to as many as 16 terminals. WSF is anticipated to award a design-build contract in 2026 to build the necessary infrastructure and power supply for vessel charging at Seattle Terminal. That procurement is underway and more information can be found on the project web page SR 519, Seattle Trm - Terminal Electrification. To explore all contracting opportunities with WSDOT, visit our Contracting page.
Vessel charging system
In November 2025, WSF selected Stemman-Technik (Schüttorf, Germany) to supply charging systems for the hybrid-electric fleet. We developed terminal design standards and selected a standard vessel charging system. This means we’ll have the same charging equipment at all the terminals so the ferries can change terminals as needed to ensure reliable service.
New hybrid-electric vessels
On July 1, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced that Eastern Shipbuilding Group was awarded a contract to build three new hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries. On August 7, 2025, we finalized the contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group so they can complete the design of the new ferries and develop a detailed project schedule. At the same time, we will work with ABB to design the propulsion system and purchase the technology that will power the new vessels, including the engines and batteries. This should take about a year, then construction begins. We’re offering Eastern incentives to deliver vessels ahead of schedule and estimate the first 160-auto ferry could be in service as early as 2030.
Jumbo Mark II vessel conversion
The Wenatchee returned to service as North America’s largest hybrid-electric passenger vessel in mid-2025. Work to modernize the Wenatchee included long-planned upgrades to its aging propulsion system, modernized ship controls, and conversion to hybrid-electric power. Check out this video that highlights the conversion process.
Washington’s 2026 supplemental transportation budget, adopted March 2026, reallocated funding initially planned for two more Jumbo Mark II vessel conversions. While vessel conversions remain an important part of WSF’s plans to modernize our fleet, this reallocation reflects the system’s pressing need for new vessels.
WSF will revisit plans to convert the remaining Jumbo Mark II vessels, the Tacoma and Puyallup, as funding allows.
We’ve been planning for ferry electrification for years. Both our 2040 Long Range Plan and System Electrification Plan have paved the way for our transition to hybrid-electric propulsion. These documents were closely informed by specific requirements from the Washington state laws.
Why hybrid-electric ferries
While WSF is one of the first – and largest – ferry systems in the US to electrify its fleet, this technology has been broadly applied throughout northern Europe with more than 70 comparable vessels in service going back to 2015. In general, hybrid-electric ferries provide additional system resiliency by implementing a second power source that allows a vessel to continue service if there are any issues with the electricity. In addition, having diesel as a secondary power source allows WSF to manage utility costs in a way that is most cost-effective while still providing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. This model also facilitates an earlier transition to electrification, with the first vessels operating as hybrids prior to full terminal electrification.
2040 Long Range Plan
Our 2040 Long Range Plan (PDF 11.4MB), delivered to the Legislature in January 2019, recommends short-, medium- and long-term actions for WSF to pursue and focuses on a set of investments and service enhancements for implementation over 20 years. One of the key recommendations is to move toward a reliable ferry fleet that has a lighter footprint on the environment and meets emissions reduction targets. These goals were captured in the System Electrification Plan (PDF 4MB) in Dec. 2020.
RCW 70A.45.050 requires state agencies to reduce their GHG emissions by 70% by 2040 and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
WSDOT will conduct Environmental Justice Assessments when considering significant agency actions, in alignment with the state’s environmental justice law (RCW 70A.02) referred to as the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act.
Implementation schedule
To transition to hybrid-electric power by 2040, WSF will
Build 16 new hybrid vessels
Electrify 16 terminals
Convert the largest ferries to hybrid-electric propulsion
The Ferry System Electrification program is estimated to cost $6 billion, with $1.68 billion currently funded from grants, state, and federal funding.
Summary of key funding sources
$1.03 billion from Move Ahead Washington
$599 million from Climate Commitment Act (CCA)
$35 million from the State of Washington Department of Ecology Volkswagen Enforcement Mitigation Action Grant
$12.5 million from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants
$4.9 million from FTA Passenger Ferry Grant program for Clinton Terminal Electrification
$2.5 million USDOT Community Directed funding for Seattle Terminal Electrification
$1.5 million from MARAD Marine Highway program for Jumbo Mark II Conversion
WSF will keep ferry-served communities and ferry riders informed and engaged throughout system electrification. Engagement activities related to terminal electrification may include environmental review, pre-construction outreach, and more.
2040 Long Range plan engagement
During the development of WSF’s 2040 Long Range plan, WSF conducted extensive public outreach, resulting in participation by more than 7,400 people. Public comments overwhelmingly supported “greening the fleet.” One of the top 5 priorities identified in over 2,000 public comments was broad support for WSF to design resilient and environmentally friendly vessels and terminals.
Naming our ferries
In 2021, the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) , conducted outreach to name the next new ferry – a hybrid-electric 160-auto-capacity vessel. Delivery of the first vessel is expected in 2030. After this public process, the Commission adopted a resolution to name the upcoming vessel the Wishkah. A similar naming process will be implemented for future vessels.
HEAL Act Environmental Justice assessments (EJA)
These terminal electrification projects are considered Significant Agency Actions under the HEAL Act and will undergo or have completed the Environmental Justice Assessment (EJA process):
Bainbridge Island Terminal Electrification project
Seattle Terminal Electrification project
Bremerton Terminal Electrification project
Clinton Terminal Electrification project
By making the effects of construction actions clear, EJAs help WSDOT make decisions about how work should proceed. Communities likely to be affected by WSDOT projects are involved in determining impacts, and options for reducing harms and distributing benefits fairly (WSDOT Environmental Justice Assessment homepage). Terminal electrification EJAs are noted on WSDOT’s environmental justice assessment site.
Vessel construction
The System Electrification Plan calls for 16 new hybrid-electric vessels by 2040. In July 2025, Eastern Shipbuilding Group was selected to construct the first three new ferries. In August 2025, WSF finalized the contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group so work can begin on these new hybrid-electric 160-auto capacity ferries.
Vessel conversion
Converting our largest vessels to hybrid-electric power serves two purposes: to reduce emissions and modernize the propulsion systems. The Jumbo Mark II vessels are the largest in WSF’s fleet and produce 26% of WSF’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions. They also serve the most densely populated urban areas in Central Sound.
The first conversion was completed from 2023 to 2025 on the Wenatchee. The Wenatchee returned to service July 2025. Washington’s 2026 supplemental transportation budget – adopted March 2026 – did not fund future vessel conversions. WSF will revisit plans to upgrade and convert our other two Jumbo Mark II vessels, the Tacoma and Puyallup, as funding allows.
Terminal electrification
In collaboration with regional utilities, WSF is updating sixteen terminals to charge hybrid-electric ferries. We established memorandums of understanding with Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy to add power to the first five terminals: Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Clinton, Bremerton, and Kingston. Adding power involves routing new dedicated power lines and installing switchgear and a vessel charging system. Construction is currently anticipated to start in 2026 with Seattle and expected to wrap up in 2029.
Electrification program schedule through 2030. Construction of the first new hybrid-electric ferry is set to begin mid-2026, and procurement is underway for vessel charging upgrades at the Seattle terminal.
Image
Preliminary 3-D-renderings of the outboard profile for the new hybrid-electric 160-auto-capacity ferry.
While the new design may look like other Washington State Ferries, there are a number of new features on the 160-auto-capacity ferries:
Vessel charging receptacle locations shown as green cubicles on the upper bridge deck
50-seat open-air passenger lounges beneath each pilothouse
Improved accessibility features
Reduced topside structure to lower lifecycle cost
47 feet of added length
Capacity for 160 vehicles
Below deck, the vessel will match the best ferry technology in the industry, including:
A flexible hybrid propulsion plant includes two diesel engines as well as two battery banks, powering two electric motors on each end
Rapid Charging technology to charge the batteries during each scheduled terminal stop
Three modes of operation: diesel, battery only, or hybrid mode.
The culmination of these efforts will be five new hybrid-electric vessels, expected to save a combined 240 million gallons of diesel over their 60-year lifespan.
WFS is the highest greenhouse gas emitter among state agencies in Washington. Each year, our ferries burn 19 million gallons of diesel fuel which produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as roughly 42,000 cars. WSF was directed to achieve an emission-free fleet by 2050. This means transitioning to a hybrid-electric fleet as soon as possible. Our schedule prioritizes benefits for those communities that have long been burdened with environmental, health and social inequalities in communities like the Duwamish River Valley. Work is currently underway on Central Puget Sound routes.
Emission reduction facts and figures
Jumbo Mark II and Olympic Class vessels currently contribute 50% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions of our ferry system
Converting three Jumbo Mark II vessels will reduce carbon emissions by more than 45,000 metric tons per year-- the equivalent of taking nearly 10,000 cars off the road annually
By 2040, fleetwide emission reductions will include:
