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Washington State Ferries (WSF) will rebuild and modernize our fleet and convert our system, the largest in the country, to hybrid-electric power by 2040 following direction from the Washington legislature and governor. Rebuilding the fleet is necessary to ensure reliable ferry service. 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 nineteen million gallons of diesel fuel to support nearly twenty million 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
$1.68 billion secured funding | $3.98 billion total estimated cost
Major project alerts
The invitation to bid process for new hybrid-electric 160-auto ferries continues. Volumes III, IV and V of the invitation to bid were released this spring. We expect to award a contract early this summer.
WSF aspires to a reliable and emission-free ferry fleet by 2050. To get there, we will expand the fleet by converting six existing vessels to hybrid-electric power, building 16 new hybrid-electric vessels and adding shore charging to 16 terminals.
The Ferry System Electrification Program is estimated to cost $3.98 billion. $1.68 billion is currently funded, including $1.03 billion from Move Ahead Washington and $599 million from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.
New hybrid-electric vessels
In April 2025, we expect to receive bids for the construction of up to five new 160-auto capacity hybrid-electric ferries. This will be the first shipbuilding award in our journey to build sixteen new ferries by 2040. We expect the first two new hybrid-electric vessels to enter service in 2028 and an additional three vessels by 2030.
In March 2025, it was announced that midlife upgrades and conversion work on the Tacoma and Puyallup will be delayed until after the 2026 World Cup. This change is part of Governor Ferguson and WSF's plan to restore service to pre-pandemic levels.
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.
WSF released a request for proposals for the procurement of the vessel charging system on Jan. 21, 2025.
For a more in-depth look at our ferry electrification efforts, watch the extended video.
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.
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
Implementation schedule
To transition to hybrid-electric power by 2040, 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. Our program schedule will continue to be updated as projects advance.
Cost and Funding
The Ferry System Electrification program is estimated to cost $3.98 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
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.
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. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming 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.
The System Electrification Plan calls for delivering 16 new hybrid-electric vessels by 2040. WSF is currently seeking a shipbuilder to build the first five funded vessels. These five vessels will be the new hybrid-electric 160-auto capacity ferries, formerly referred to as the Hybrid-Electric Olympic Class or HEOC. WSF expects to award one or two contracts to shipyards in early summer 2025.
Vessel conversion
In August 2023, Washington State Ferries awarded Vigor Marine a contract for work on the Jumbo Mark II class vessels, the Wenatchee, Tacoma, and Puyallup. The scope includes long-planned upgrades to aging propulsion systems, modernization of ship controls, and conversion to hybrid-electric power. These updates will improve reliability and help ensure these 25 to 27-year-old ferries serve our communities for decades longer.
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. The Wenatchee is expected to return to service early summer 2025. Work on the Tacoma and Puyallup may resume after the 2026 World Cup.
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.
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.
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.
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:
