b'MEMBER NEWSSenesco Marine LLC Awarded Contract to Build New Diesel-Hybrid Ferry for DRBAT heDelawareRiverandBay Authority(DRBA)Commis-sion voted to award a contract for the construction and outfitting of a new 75-car passenger/vehicle diesel-hy-brid ferry to Senesco Marine LLC. The new ferry, designed by Elliott Bay DesignGroup,willjointhefleetat Cape MayLewes Ferry and eventu-ally replace the Cape Henlopen, an over 40-year-old diesel engine ferry serving passengerstravelingbetweenLewes, Del., and Cape May, N.J. DRBA Exec-utive Director Joel Coppadge realizes the historical significance of the Cape MayLewes Ferry and its importancegrantaward.TheboardactiontomonthlymeetingonNov.18,2025. totheresortcommunitiesonbothaward the contract, which is subject toWith the recent bid award complete, sides of the Delaware Bay. For sustain- the New Jersey and Delaware Gover- construction on the new vessel is slated able ferry operations in the future, itsnors ten-day review and consent peri- to start early next year with a projected imperative we make this necessary cap- od, took place at the bi-state agencyscompletion date of summer 2029.ital investment today, Coppadge said. The benefits of this new eco-friendly vesselincludeloweroperatingand maintenancecosts,decreasedemis-sions at sea and zero emissions while near port and docked. The hybrid and all-electricoperatingmodesareesti-mated to achieve the following annual reductions: 2,025 tons in carbon di-oxide, 102.7 tons in nitrogen dioxide, 1.51tonsoffineparticulatematter, 1.03tonsofhydrocarbons,andfive tonsofcarbonmonoxide.Thenew engineswillalsoreducefuelcon-PHOTO: ELLIOTT BAY DESIGN GROUPsumption by an estimated 35 percent. The projects price tag of $78.6 million is partially funded with a $20 million U.S.DepartmentofTransportation 69 DECEMBER 2025'