San Francisco Bay Ferry and a group of private and public sector partners launched the MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry powered 100% by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
The vessel will begin service to the public on July 19, offering free transportation between Pier 41 and the Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal.
The Sea Change represents an enormous milestone toward efforts to decarbonize the maritime industry. It will operate as a part of the San Francisco Bay Ferry network for a six-month demonstration period designed to showcase the application of fuel cell technology as a viable strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The vessel emits only water vapor, a portion of which is remineralized and used in the onboard water fountain, making it the only vessel in the world with drinkable emissions.
The vessel is owned by SWITCH Maritime, and was developed by the company with support from a grant provided by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The demonstration service is made possible thanks to sponsorships from a group of partners including Chevron New Energies; the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District; and United Airlines. The service will be operated by San Francisco Bay Ferry’s contract operator, Blue & Gold Fleet.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, transportation is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology and other lower carbon or net neutral technologies come at an important time as 2024 is projected to be one of the hottest years on record.
The Sea Change is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
MV Sea Change is a 70-foot, 75-passenger catamaran ferry featuring an integrated hydrogen power system from Zero Emission Industries (ZEI) with 360kW of PEM fuel cells,100kWh of Li-Ion battery storage, and 600kW of electric motor propulsion, providing a top speed of 15 knots and service speed of 8-12 knots.