b'MEMBER NEWSFirst U.S. Hydrogen-Powered Ferry Receives U.S. Coast Guard Approval to Begin ServiceT heSeaChange, a zero-emis- Followingthedemonstrationperiod, 360kWoffuelcellsfromCummins,sion hydrogen-fueled ferry, thereareplanstointegratethevessel and600kWofelectricmotorpropul-has received a certificate of into a more permanent ferry route sionfromBAESystems.Theprojectinspection(COI)fromtheU.S.Coast and work is already underway on received partial funding from a $3Guard, marking a significant mile- newdesignsforlargerandfasterfer- million grant administered by thestoneintheuseofhydrogenfuelcells riesforSanFranciscoBay,aswellas Bay Area Air Quality ManagementintheU.S.maritimeindustry.With othermajorferrymarketsintheU.S. District, as part of the CaliforniatheCOIinhand,thevesselmaybegin andinternationally. Climate Investments initiative.commercial operations as a public The project also benefited fromferryserviceinSanFrancisco,thefirst TheSeaChange was built and the first-ever loan guarantee underhydrogen-fueledvesselinthecountry. launchedatPVAmemberAllAmeri- BAAQMDs Climate Tech FinancecanMarinesshipyardinBellingham, program, which helped secure a Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Wash. The vessel features an inte- $5 million commercial financingcommander,CaptainTaylorQ.Lam, gratedhydrogenpowersystem,with fromKeyBank.presentedthecertificateduringacer-emonyheldonthevesselsbow.TheCOI marks the successful culmina-tion of years of close collaborationwiththeCoastGuard.FollowingalauncheventinJune,thevesselwillbeoperatedinasix-monthpilot service by PVA member SanFranciscoBayAreaWaterEmergencyTransportationAuthority.Thevesselcancovertransitdistancesupto300nauticalmilesandreachspeedsofupto15knots.Thetechnologyprovidessimilar operational capabilities todiesel-powered vessels, eliminatingthe need for shoreside charging in-frastructurerequiredbybattery-onlyvessels.The six-month pilot service is madepossibleduetoapublic-privatespon-sorshipincludingUnited;theGoldenStateWarriors;theCaliforniaAirRe-sources Board; Golden Gate Bridge,Highway, and Transportation Dis-trict;andBlue&GoldFleet.ThelasttwocompaniesaremembersofPVA.35 MAY 2024'