Washington State Ferries is embarking on a partnership with marine technology company ABB to make strides towards a greener future by designing and building five new hybrid-electric vessels, capable of carrying 160 autos each, as part of an effort to achieve zero emissions by 2050, as reported by the Washington State Department of Transportation. ABB's role in the venture will involve developing the electric propulsion system, providing engineering expertise, and delivering high-tech equipment, as well as guiding installation and ensuring the efficiency of these systems once operational.
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Matt von Ruden, the WSF system electrification program administrator, emphasized the importance of ABB's specialized involvement, "ABB's specialized knowledge and expertise helps reduce risk and ensure performance in the design, construction and delivery of our new hybrid-electric ferries." WSF has called shipyards to bid on the construction of these innovative ferries, with the anticipation that the contract will be awarded by early 2025 and the first two of the five vessels will be ready for delivery by 2028.
Moreover, on the subject of the company's educational efforts, ABB is also charged with the essential task of training WSF crews on the new systems to ensure smooth operation and maintenance. As per the Washington State Department of Transportation, Drew Orvieto, VP of Sales, Americas at ABB Marine & Ports, elaborated on the shared commitment to healthier ferrying solutions stating, "We look forward to supporting WSF in their mission to provide cleaner, more efficient ferry services for the communities they serve."
