The familiar rumble of the Coronado ferry could soon be a memory. By fall 2026, the boats shuttling commuters and tourists across San Diego Bay are slated to run on electricity, with Flagship Cruises planning to swap out its two diesel vessels for new battery-powered ferries. The operator says the future boats will be quieter, more stable and roomier, with more space for bikes and higher passenger capacity. Shipyards have finished submitting proposals, and the project is shifting from design work toward construction.
Who's paying for it
The conversion is being covered through a mix of state climate money and private investment from the company. The California Air Resources Board awarded about $15.27 million, and Flagship is putting in a multimillion-dollar match, bringing the total public-private tab to more than $21 million, according to WorkBoat.
Shipyard bids and timeline
Flagship issued a formal request for proposals and set January 9 as the deadline for full shipyard submissions. The company identified February 2 as its target date to pick a builder and start negotiations, per Flagship Cruises & Events.
According to the company’s materials, design and shoreside charging work are scheduled to begin later in 2025, with the goal of launching the first fully electric ferry by fall 2026. That timeline would make the Coronado run one of California’s early all-electric passenger routes.
What the new ferries will be like
The new 90-by-32-foot vessels are planned to carry up to 275 passengers, be fully ADA accessible and include dedicated areas for bicycles and strollers, industry reporting shows. Battery propulsion is expected to eliminate onboard diesel emissions and make crossings noticeably quieter and steadier on the bay.
As the bid window closed, Flagship PR manager Corchelle Worsham described a two-level design with an observatory deck and a “beachy, mahogany” second level, according to coverage in outlets such as MarineLink.
Why it matters for waterfront neighborhoods
Port officials and air-quality regulators say the electric conversion is about more than a smoother ride. They argue it will help cut diesel particulates that have long affected neighborhoods around the working waterfront and support the Port of San Diego’s clean-air goals.
“The conversion of these ferries to electric will significantly help reduce diesel particulate emissions for the Portside communities,” Paula Forbis, air pollution control officer for the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, told local outlets, according to the Coronado Times.
Rides, fares and what to expect
Flagship has said riders should not see a fare hike tied to the new boats, and local coverage noted the operator expects one-way tickets to stay at about $9.00. ABC 10News reported the company’s comments, and Flagship’s own ticketing page currently lists a $9.00 one-way fare.
With bids in and shipyards now under review, Flagship expects to name its chosen builder in the spring and kick off construction soon after. “They're going to be submitting their bids, and it's going to be a really competitive process, and we'll be announcing the shipyard winners spring of 2026,” Worsham told ABC 10News.
