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A new hydrogen-powered passenger boat is preparing to launch in San Francisco, California.

Builders of the 75-passenger boat, or ferry, say it produces no carbon emissions². The ferry, named Sea Change, is set to begin carrying passengers across San Francisco Bay to several stops in the city in June.

The ferry is completely powered by hydrogen fuel cells. In this kind of power system, the fuel cells convert hydrogen gas into electricity.

Sea Change was built at the All American Marine³ shipyard in Bellingham, in Washington state. It has been undergoing tests with the U.S. Coast Guard in nearby Puget Sound.

The project was financed by Switch Maritime⁴, which owns the Sea Change. The company's chief executive, Pace Ralli, told Reuters the ferry is the first such vessel⁵ in the world to be completely powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Ralli said he got the idea for the ferry while trying to come up with new ways to use less carbon in the maritime industry. He learned of a state-supported project in California that was developing hydrogen fuel cells as a method for "decarbonizing" ships. "So we joined up with them and funded their project in 2019," Ralli said.

The leader of the All American Marine's project is Jeff Sokolik. He said the hydrogen fuel cells power two propellers⁷ that move the ferry at a top speed of about 37 kilometers an hour.

He told Reuters he thinks the fuel cell power systems could one day become a new "standard" for many kinds of ships. He said, "They're clean, they're efficient and they make sense economically..."

Supporters of hydrogen fuel cells say the technology is cleaner than other carbon-cutting methods because the process only releases water and heat. But the high cost and large fuel cell systems have so far limited use of the technology.

"We're focused on the shipping⁸ industry because that's where we have expertise⁹, but I don't think any industry can really wait at this point," Ralli said.

He added that he thinks the Sea Change project can lead to more hydrogen fuel cell vessels¹⁰, including larger ferries, cruise ships and tankers¹¹.

Words in This Story

emission¹ – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

convert – n. to change the appearance, form or purpose of something

vessel – n. a ship or large boat

maritime – adj. of or relating to the sea

propeller⁶ – n. a piece of equipment made of two or more flat metal pieces that turn and cause a ship of aircraft to move

standard – n. a level of quality, especially one that is acceptable

efficient – adj. working well and not wasting time or energy

focus – v. to give special attention to something