Wärtsilä electric propulsion systems for US fast ferries

Wärtsilä is to supply electric propulsion systems for three battery-electric high-speed ferries that will operate in the San Francisco Bay area. The order, booked by Wärtsilä in the first quarter of this year, was placed by Bellingham-based shipbuilder, All American Marine Inc (AAM), on behalf of California’s largest public ferry operator, San Francisco Bay Ferry.

The three fully electric and zero-emission ferries will be the first vessels of their type to operate and be built in the US. They will be delivered as part of San Francisco Bay Ferry’s Rapid Electric Emission Free (REEF) Ferry Program which forms the basis of the company’s transition to zero-emission propulsion. They will operate on new routes connecting two of San Francisco’s fastest-growing districts.

Wärtsilä will supply the energy and power management system, the integrated automation system, batteries, DC hub, transformers, e-motors, and the shore power supply. The components are due for delivery during 2026 and the first vessel is likely to be commissioned early in 2027.

Ron Wille, AAM president, said: “These 150-passenger ferries represent a transformative step forward in sustainable and innovative marine transportation. They showcase AAM’s unwavering commitment to innovation, delivering cutting-edge, emission-free solutions. As we look to the future of this project, we are relying upon Wärtsilä’s advanced technologies and extensive expertise to continue driving the success of this pioneering project.”