b"MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWS All American Hosts Keel Laying for First Electric Ferry for San Francisco Bay FerryA llAmericanMarine(AAM) recentlyhostedakeel-laying ceremonymarkingthestart of construction on a series of new bat-tery-electricvesselsforSanFrancisco Bay Ferry. The new ferries are part of SFBayFerrysRapidElectricEmis-sion-Free (REEF) Ferry Program, which aims to transition the agencys fleet to zero-emission propulsion technology.AAM was awarded a $46 million con-tract in December 2024 to construct three150-passengervesselsforSan FranciscoBayFerry,withanoption for a fourth. Aurora Marine Design, developedtheconceptvessel,andaefficient,emission-freeservicealongperformanceefficiency,andoffera NewZealand-basedfirmisworkingnew routes connecting San Franciscossmooth ride for passengers. The vessels with the builder as the naval architect. Treasure Island and Mission Bay to thewill operate at 24 knots, powered by a rest of the region. A comprehensive hullpair of Echandia 219-kW battery packs Scheduled for delivery in 2027, the 100'design technology will offer an extend- and dual 625-kW electric motors.aluminumcatamaranswillprovideed waterline that reduces drag, improve The integrated propulsion system will beprovidedbyWrtsil.Theywill supplytheenergyandpowerman-agementsystem,theintegratedau-tomation system, batteries, DC hub, transformers, e-motors, and the shore power supply.PHOTO: ALL AMERICAN MARINE PHOTO: GLADDING-HEARN SHIPBUILDING, DUCLOS CORPORATIONSanFranciscoBayFerryplansto phase out its use of conventionally fu-eled ferries. In April, Nichols Brothers Boat Builders was awarded a contract to design and construct two 400-pas-sengerbattery-electricferriesunder San Francisco Bay Ferrys REEF Pro-gram. The first of thecatamarans is scheduledfordeliveryin2028.San Francisco Bay Ferry is also repowering its 400-passenger Hydrus-class vessels to run on electric propulsion.FOGHORN 58"