b'MEMBER NEWSPROP SFto BringFast Electric Ferry to the Bay AreaP ROP SF, a San Francisco-based ferry op-erator, has plans to operate a fast-electric ferry on the West Coast by 2024. PROP,aPVAmember,hasferry-operating contracts in Puget Sound and the Bay Area where they run the ferry between the San Fran-cisco Ferry Building and Treasure Island. They have partnered with Stockholm, Sweden-based Green City Ferries to build the fast-electric fer-ry which will be based on Green City Ferries Beluga24 design. PROP plans to standardize its fleet on this design.The Beluga24 is a zero-emissions catamaran designed to carry 147 passengers and 28 bicy-cles. Built of carbon fiber with a foil-assisted hull, the vessel should reduce energy demands by 50 percent compared to conventional high-speed catamarans and produce a smooth ride with little wake. The first vessel of this kind is under construction in Scandinavia and the company plans to being manufacturing in the U.S. later this year.It is a remarkable vessel using half the energy consumption of its competitors for the same performance.Eliminatingthehighcostsof diesel fuel and engine maintenance makes ferry service accessible to more communities, said PROP CEO James Jaber. Were hearing from a variety of public transport authorities, mu-nicipalities and private firms who either want to expand their ferry service or introduce new RENDERING COURTESY OF GREEN CITY FERRIESroutes, he continued. We are bullish on fast electric ferries. PROP is planning to put the first Jones Act- and U.S. Coast Guard-com-pliant electric fast ferry into operations on the west coast by end of 2024, to expand the service to the eastern seaboard shortly thereafter, and to operate a fleet of 50 electric vessels within five to seven years.33 APRIL 2023'