US developer of zero-emission maritime vessels Switch Maritime has received a Certificate of Inspection (CoI) from Capt Taylor Q Lam, San Francisco sector commander US Coast Guard (USCG) and Captain of San Francisco Port, for its flagship hydrogen ferry, ‘Sea Change’.
Switch CEO Pace Ralli said: “This CoI represents the culmination of years of close collaboration with the USCG and a significant milestone for the maritime industry, demonstrating the viability of carbon-neutral vessels. We are immensely grateful for the support from the USCG and all our partners along the path to completion. This is not the finish line, but just a starting point from which to build many more.”
With the CoI, the vessel is now able to commence commercial operation for zero-emission public ferry service. The Sea Change uses hydrogen fuel cells to power all-electric motors for transit distances up to 300 naut mile and speeds up to 15 knots. The technology provides similar operational capabilities and ranges to diesel-powered vessels, and eliminates the need for shoreside charging infrastructure required by battery-only vessels.
Following a formal launch event in June, the Sea Change will be operated in a six-month pilot service by the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), thanks to a public-private sponsorship. After the initial demonstration period, Switch will put the vessel into a more permanent ferry route. Alongside the Sea Change, Switch is actively advancing new designs for larger and faster ferries for SF Bay, and other major ferry markets in the US and internationally.
Switch aims to accelerate the adoption of net-zero vessels by bearing the regulatory and construction risks for the operators, and offering existing operators the ability to lease the new vessels after completion – a form of the ‘hardware-as-a-service’ model increasingly being utilised to accelerate the energy transition of hard to abate industrial sectors. The Switch solutions are flexible and tailored for vessel operators needing to comply with emissions regulations, providing a streamlined path to achieving a carbon-neutral fleet over time.
Built and launched at All American Marine shipyard in Bellingham, Washington, the Sea Change is a 75-passenger catamaran ferry featuring an integrated hydrogen power system from Zero Emission Industries, with 360kW of fuel cells from Cummins and 600kW of electric motor propulsion from BAE Systems. The project is partially funded by a US$ 3m grant from the California Air Resources Board.
Image: ‘Sea Change’ hydrogen fuel cell powered ferry in San Francisco (source: Business Wire)
