Ferry breakdowns over the past year have created a greater sense of urgency to build replacements.
“Everyone wants new ferries as soon as possible. … If we could go faster, we’d be probably doing it,” said Matt von Ruden, the WSF’s electrification program administrator.
Switching from hybrid to diesel-only ferries is like trying to maneuver a huge ship in a tight space: It takes time. Part of the challenge is that the Legislature, not the governor, is key to making such a change.
In 2023, the Legislature directed the WSF to build five hybrid ferries. Other legislation allocated $1.3 billion to build them. New legislation would be needed in 2025
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