Zero-emission vessel developer Switch Maritime LLC, Jackson, Wy., and naval architecture firm Incat Crowther, Sydney, are developing a hydrogen fuel cell-electric fast ferry for initial deployment in New York waters.
The 93'6"x29'6" Sea Change II will be an aluminum catamaran designed to carry 150 passengers at a cruising speed of 25 knots. The ferry will have 720 kg of stored, compressed hydrogen capacity, providing a full day of operational range.
Incat Crowther said it is working with Switch on the detailed development, design, and regulatory approval process, while Switch is advancing project development activities beyond vessel design. The partners, which plan to deploy a ZEF-150 demonstration based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, have not selected a shipbuilder.
Equipped with four 588-kW e-motors, six 225-kW hydrogen fuel cells, and 1,576 kWh of battery energy storage systems, the vessel is designed to maintain an operational profile similar to a diesel vessel, including parallel service speeds and a daily bunkering schedule, Incat Crowther said. The design eliminates the need for shoreside charging infrastructure and power grid upgrades required for battery-electric vessels.
"Switch aims to provide operators with commercially viable vessels that future-proof ferry fleets," said Elias Van Sickle, co-founder and CEO of Switch Maritime. "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."
The main deck of the USCG Subchapter T passenger vessel will feature seating for 150 passengers, luggage storage, a kiosk, three bathrooms, including a wheelchair-accessible bathroom, and large windows. It will be operated by a crew of six.
The project is supported by a $2 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority through its Innovation and Research Advanced Fuels and Thermal Energy Research program.
"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," said Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO of NYSERDA. "This demonstration is an impressive showcase for clean hydrogen as an emerging and innovative technology that is on the cusp of transforming how people move from place to place."
"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," said Dan Mace, technical manager at Incat Crowther. "The vessel's ability to drop in to existing New York fleets is a real positive step to reduce emissions, and ensures the vessel can be deployed quickly without the need for constructing additional shoreside infrastructure."
The partnership between Switch Maritime and Incat Crowther previously developed Sea Change, the world's first zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric-drive high-speed passenger ferry built by All American Marine Inc., Bellingham, Wash. The groundbreaking vessel entered commercial service in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024.
