Global ship designer Incat Crowther and zero-emission vessel developer Switch Maritime have begun detailed design of a 28-metre, 150-passenger hydrogen fuel cell-electric fast ferry, leveraging lightweight composite and marine-grade aluminium structures to boost efficiency and operational range.
Set for initial deployment in New York's ferry network, the vessel combines advanced materials with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion to deliver sustained daily service performance comparable to diesel-powered vessels, without reliance on shoreside charging infrastructure.
The project includes a global team with expertise spanning ferry operations, electric propulsion, and hydrogen system safety. From their office in New York City, SWITCH is actively advancing project development activities beyond vessel design. The project team is planning to deploy a ZEF-150 demonstration based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The new vessel is designed to align with local operational requirements and pre-existing infrastructure. The vessel's hydrogen fuel cell-electric propulsion and hydrogen storage systems ensure the new ferry can maintain an operational profile similar to that of a diesel vessel, with parallel service speeds, a daily bunkering schedule, no need to increase dwell time or alter service to account for vessel charging, and no investment in costly shoreside charging infrastructure and power grid upgrades.
The new 28-metre hydrogen fuel cell-electric ferry will be capable of transporting 150 passengers at a cruising speed of 25 knots. The operationally flexible vessel will have 720 kilograms of stored, compressed hydrogen capacity giving it the ability to operate on a range of routes across New York ferry networks with a full day of operational range.
In addition to operational flexibility, the new vessel's design will also prioritise the passenger experience, featuring comfortable seating for 150 passengers, ample luggage storage, a kiosk, three bathrooms including a wheelchair accessible bathroom, and large windows.
The development of New York's first hydrogen fuel cell electric ferry, supported by a $US2 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), builds on the successful partnership between Incat Crowther and SWITCH, who previously delivered Sea Change, the world's first zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric-drive high speed passenger ferry, now operating in the California Bay Area.
SWITCH Maritime's Co-founder and CEO Elias Van Sickle said: "SWITCH aims to provide operators with commercially viable vessels that future-proof ferry fleets. Our objective is to meet existing performance standards with drop-in solutions that don't require overhauling systems or schedules. And if it can be done in New York, it can be done anywhere."
Incat Crowther's Technical Manager Dan Mace said: "The design of this vessel showcases a feasible solution for mass transit operators looking to begin the fleet decarbonisation process, while maintaining existing operational profiles."
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "NYSERDA's partnership with SWITCH Maritime and Incat Crowther on the first hydrogen fuel cell-electric ferry is a catalyst for the future of zero-emission transportation in New York State."
Source: www.incatcrowther.com
