Washington State Ferries (WSF) will convert our ferry system, the largest in the country, to hybrid-electric power by 2040 following mandates from the Washington legislature and governor. Transitioning to a hybrid-electric fleet is necessary to reduce emissions, ensure resiliency, and reduce operations and maintenance costs.
As the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions among Washington state agencies, WSF burns approximately 19 million gallons of diesel fuel to support tens of millions of passengers every year. This innovative electrification program will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save millions in fuel costs.
Timeline overview
2020-2040
Major project status
Construction
Funding
$1.34 billion secured funding | $3.98 billion total estimated cost
Major project alerts
WSF published a Request for Information (RFI) on Feb. 7, 2024, to obtain industry feedback on the procurement of a hybrid-electric vessel charging system. See below for more information.
WSF aims to achieve an emission-free fleet by 2050. This means converting six existing vessels to hybrid-electric power, building 16 new hybrid-electric vessels and adding shore charging to 16 terminals. 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.
Spring 2024 procurement update
WSF issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Feb. 7, 2024 to obtain industry feedback as we launch procurement of the vessel charging system for the hybrid-electric fleet. Industry respondents are encouraged to review the draft RFI and provide feedback by March 8, 2024, prior to the issuance of the Vessel Charging System Request for Proposal (RFP) in the coming months. Potential bidders or suppliers are also encouraged to register as an Interested Party with the WSF System Electrification Program .
Hybrid-electric new vessel procurement
WSF published a Request for Information (RFI) on Dec. 5 to obtain industry feedback as part of our effort to contract for up to five new Hybrid Electric Olympic Class (HEOC) ferries. The Request for Information (RFI) closed on Jan. 5, 2024. We appreciate the interest and involvement from all respondents.
WSF plans to issue an Invitation for Bid (IFB) in spring 2024 for up to five new vessels. WSF will host a Pre-Bid webinar for shipbuilders interested in serving as prime contractors on Feb. 28, 2024, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. PST. WSF will review elements of the draft Invitation for Bid (IFB), provide a summary of the vessel functional design and answer industry questions. Potential prime contractors should register for the webinar by5:00 p.m. PST on Feb. 26, 2024.
Jumbo Mark II vessels
In August 2023, Washington State Ferries awarded Vigor Marine a contract of up to $150 million to convert the agency’s three largest ferries to hybrid electric power.
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.
In Sept. 2023, Vigor Marine started work on the Wenatchee, expected to reenter service in fall 2024. Vigor will then begin converting the Tacoma. WSF has the option to extend the contract to convert a third boat, the Puyallup, in 2025.
While converting the vessels to hybrid electric power, Vigor Marine will modernize the ship’s controls and other outdated systems. These updates will improve reliability and help ensure these 22-year-old ferries serve our communities for decades longer.
Terminal electrification
WSF is in the process of planning and designing charging infrastructure at 16 of our ferry terminals. This effort begins with ensuring that each terminal will be able to secure sufficient energy through collaboration with local utilities.
For a primer on WSF’s electrification efforts, please see this video:
For a more in-depth look at our ferry electrification efforts, watch the extended video.
Implementation schedule
The implementation schedule below shows the electrification of terminals and vessels by routes. This schedule was updated in July 2022. All dates are subject to change and are dependent upon additional funding.
Cost
Estimates in the 2020 System Electrification Plan show that it will cost a total of $3.98 billion to fund the program—adjusted for inflation in the year of expenditure. Vessel electrification is estimated at $3.7 billion and terminal electrification is estimated at $280 million.
The program is currently funded at $1.33 billion from grants, state, and federal funding. The newest, and largest, investment of $1.03 billion is from the 2022 Move Ahead Washington transportation package. The program still needs an additional $2.37 billion to be fully funded.
WSDOT and WSF are pursuing a number of additional funding opportunities at the federal, state and local levels to advance the electrification program for both vessels and terminals. To date, WSF has been awarded grants to support the conversion project including $35 million from the nationwide federal Volkswagen settlement, a $6.5 million Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant and a Marine Highway Project Designation and grant award of $1.5M.
Plans for action
We’ve been planning for ferry electrification for years. Both our 2040 Long Range Plan and System Electrification Plan have paved the way for how we’ll transition to hybrid electric. These documents have also been closely informed by specific requirements from the Washington State governor and legislature, outlined below.
2040 Long Range Plan
Our 2040 Long Range Plan (PDF 11.4MB), which was 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 to be implemented over 20 years. One of the key recommendations is to move toward a “greener” ferry fleet with the goal of a reliable fleet that has a lighter footprint on the environment and outperforms carbon dioxide reduction targets. These goals were captured in the System Electrification Plan (PDF 4MB) in Dec. 2020.
System Electrification Plan
We developed a System Electrification Plan (PDF 4MB) that expands on the 2040 Long Range Plan (PDF 11.4MB) to evaluate alternatives and propose an efficient strategy for using hybrid electric vessels throughout the system. The plan was delivered to the legislature in January 2021.
RCW 70A.45.050 limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for state agencies by reducing GHG emissions by 70% by 2040 and achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050
History of community engagement
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. Four clear themes emerged from community engagement. One of those themes, Sustainability and Resilience, showed broad support for WSF’s investment in infrastructure to maintain reliable service in a changing climate and reduce environmental impact. 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 ferry that will be built – a 144-car, hybrid electric Olympic Class vessel. Delivery of the first vessel is expected in 2027. 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.
Upcoming public engagement opportunities
We will conduct community engagement activities for construction activities, including terminal electrification, and will provide information here about these upcoming activities. Stay tuned for more information about these efforts.
Electrification program
To transition to a hybrid electric fleet, WSF will:
Build 16 new hybrid vessels
Retrofit 6 current diesel vessels to hybrid
Retire 13 diesel vessels
Electrify 16 terminals
WSF will approach this transition in three key project areas over the next 20 years: vessel construction, vessel conversion, and terminal electrification.
Vessel construction
The System Electrification Plan calls for delivering 16 new hybrid electric vessels by 2040. WSF is seeking a shipbuilder to build the first five funded vessels – setting WSF on its new course – for a greener ferry system, with reduced emissions of up to 76% when the plan is fully implemented.
Vessel conversion
We are moving forward with converting our three Jumbo Mark II-class ferries, the largest in the fleet, from diesel to hybrid electric propulsion. In March 2023, the Invitation for Bid was posted to secure a shipbuilder to convert the Jumbo Mark II vessels. Each vessel will be at the selected shipyard for approximately nine months, with the Wenatchee conversion first between September 2023 and May 2024. The Tacoma and Puyallup will follow in the two subsequent years. We would like to acknowledge that the $35 million grant funding from the federal Volkswagen settlement, administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology, was instrumental in helping WSF launch the vessel conversion effort, one of the first funding sources for this critical work.
Terminal electrification
We are working with the five different utilities – Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, Orcas Power & Light, Tacoma Power, and Jefferson PUD – that supply electricity to our terminals to supply additional power from the substations to the affected terminals. Most utilities do have enough electricity to supply the needs of ferries, but each utility has different challenges to overcome to meet this need. We’ll be working with utilities early and often as we collaborate to build a hybrid electric ferry system.
In addition, WSF is in preliminary engineering to bring power to Colman Dock in Seattle, to the Bainbridge Island and Bremerton terminals, and to the Clinton/Mukilteo route. Construction at these terminals is anticipated to start in 2025 and expected to wrap up in 2027.
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 over 70 comparable vessels in service going back to 2015. In general, hybrid 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 GHG emission reductions. This model also facilitates an earlier transition to electrification, with the first vessels operating as hybrids prior to full terminal electrification.
Reducing emissions
We are beginning electrification in our Central Sound routes as they are the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions and electrifying these urban area routes can also significantly improve air quality for local communities. Jumbo Mark II vessels currently contribute 26% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions of our ferry system, and Olympic Class vessels contribute 25%. Replacing both will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%. Converting a Jumbo Mark II vessel will reduce carbon emissions by 48,565 metric tons/year – the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road.
By 2040, emission reductions will include:
Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 76%
Reduction in sulfur oxide emissions by 75%
Reduction in nitrous oxide emissions by 94%
Reduction in particulate matter emissions by 90%
These greener ferries have the added benefit of reducing operating costs, virtually eliminating engine noise and vibration, and reducing maintenance costs.