b'FOGHORNFOCUS: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESWashington State Ferries Move toward Zero-Emission Fleet and Greener OperationsBy Karen Rainbolt, FOGHORN Managing EditorP VA Vessel member Washington State Ferries (WSF), which is headquartered in Seattle, has been participating in the PVA Green WATERS Program since 2013 and has been actively increasing its green efforts to lessen its environmental impact in several areas, both on land and on the water. PVA Green WATERS is a voluntary program that aids and supports best green business practices for the passenger vessel industry with suggested ways to lower emissions and reduce energy to maintain the health and cleanliness of Americas waterways. Hybrid-Electric FerriesPVA Associate members Vigor, also of Seattle, and ABB, Houston, TX, are working with WSF to reachWashington Governor Jay Inslee, Transportation Secretary Roger Millar, Washington State Ferries Chief Amy Scarton, and then-Vigor CEO Frank Foti at hybrid-electric ferries program kickoff at Vigor in September 2019. Credit: Washing-the ambitious goals set in the nationston State Ferrieslargest ferry systems long-range plan. The WSF 2040 Long Range Planreduce emissions by 57.5 percentjobs and a total of 1,300 direct, indirect calls for the construction of five newbelow the emissions level in 2019, saidand induced jobs, and the states Offi ce Olympic Class ferries with hybrid- Jay Hebert, Vice PresidentMarineof Financial Management has calcu-electric propulsion and high capacityFabrication, Vigor. Vigor is delightedlated that each $75 million invested energy storage systems at variousto partner with ABB in this remarkablein ferries produces $90 million in terminals in the near term. The 2019work prompted by the commitment ofeconomic activity. Legislature approved initial fundingWashington Governor Jay Inslee, theBy 2040, the WSF plan calls for for the first of the new vessels, withstate Legislature and Washington Statereplacing 13 existing diesel ferries with delivery scheduled in 2023. The newFerries to replace aging ferries withnew hybrid-electric ferries and con-vessels are needed to replace agingclean technology in alignment with theverting six vessels to plug-in hybrid, as vessels in the current fl eet. states commitment to environmentalwell as placing recharging capacity at Amy Scarton, who heads the largeststewardship.many WSF terminals. Hybrid vessels ferry system in North America said,The new vessels, with a capacity ofwould be capable of charging at the These new vessels will lead the way144 cars and 1,500 passengers, with theterminal, and some vessels would be as Washington State Ferries transitionsplanned addition of charging capabil- able to operate in fully electric mode to a cleaner and greener fl eet that willity at terminals, would reduce fuel con- on shorter routes. The plan indicates serve the people of the state for decadessumption by up to 95 percent.that if all the new vessels and upgrades to come. Vigor has built WSF ferries at itsit calls for are realized, carbon dioxideVigor selected ABB to provideHarbor Island shipyard in Seattle. Inemissions could be below the 2050 hybrid-electric propulsion and energyaddition to environmental and trans- reduction target by 2034. storage systems for new vessels forportation benefi ts, construction of newLeveraging ABBs Onboard DC WSF.ferries generates family-wage jobs andGrid power distribution system This landmark project supportsother positive economic impacts. Eachand proven drive technology, the new Washington States goal for 2050 toferry built produces up to 560 directferry design will optimize energy use, 10JULY 2020FOGHORN'