Amid the Trump administration’s ongoing blitz against climate change initiatives, the Steamship Authority is looking to take time to assess its options for alternative energy.
A discussion Tuesday with the Steamship board was spearheaded by Jim Malkin, Martha’s Vineyard representative, who said that the ferry line should reassess how it can pursue alternative energy in its fleet — especially since it seems unlikely that federal funding for such endeavors would be awarded under the current presidential administration.
“Given the current environment in D.C., I think we have an opportunity to take some time and examine what the best options are for the Steamship Authority to look at alternative energy going forward,” Malkin said.
Malkin also requested ferry management to tap a firm to develop a plan.
Island residents and officials have been calling for the electrification of ferries to cut carbon emissions, and Malkin said that at least on the Vineyard route, “preliminary work” showed that the hybrid route was the “only appropriate way to go.” Malkin expects the ferry to have at least two years to consider what path to take.
Steamship general manager Robert Davis said the ferry line has been in contact with Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group, a company that had conducted a study in 2022 saying the Vineyard route may be viable for electric ferries.
“We need to establish where we’re at, which was something that was started but was put on the back burner,” Davis said.
Davis said exploring alternative energy would take a “two-phased approach.” First, the ferry line will need to determine its “emission baseline” alongside current and possible future emission standards.
The next phase would be determining the path forward, which Davis said could include looking at potentially converting an existing ferry, like the Island Home or the Woods Hole, into a hybrid vessel.
The 2022 Data from the National Census of Ferry Operators show that over 80 percent of the ferry industry relies on diesel fuel to power vessels. That includes all Steamship Authority ferries. Still, there have been efforts by the Steamship Authority toward electrification, like budgeting $375,000 to design and engineer a hybrid vessel. Davis also said the ferry is speaking with its engine manufacturers about using renewable diesel, although a switch would come with an “upcharge.”
Board members expressed concerns on Tuesday about the potential costs of moving toward electrification.
“I’m definitely pro to clean up the atmosphere and things like that,” said Robert Jones, Barnstable representative on the board. “But it’s gonna have to follow the money because some of these things are unbelievably expensive.”
Jones worried ticket sales won’t be enough to fund the tens of millions of dollars that may be needed toward electrifying vessels and shoreside infrastructure, particularly with rising costs to materials like steel, on top of the operating cost which he said should be the priority.
Davis said the ferry line is continuing to apply for federal grants with the hopes that they will be funded.
Another concern Davis said was that there wouldn’t be enough power at Woods Hole or Vineyard Haven connections to power electric ferries. He also said battery technology and suppliers have changed since Elliott Bay Design Group’s initial study for the Steamship Authority.
The call from the public to work toward electric or hybrid ferries was made again during Tuesday’s meeting.
“I think it’s hard to think about the relative short-term cost to the Steamship Authority versus the long-term and increasing impact of climate change on our planet as well as the continuation of our species,” Kate Warner, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission energy planner, said.
Warner also highlighted that a cable is being replaced in West Chop and a new cable is being installed in East Chop, both expected to be finished by spring next year. She also suggested the ferry line reach out to Eversource about its electricity aspirations.
While the board encouraged Steamship management to continue talking with the design group, no vote was taken by its members.
As for the difficulties imposed by the federal government, President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to reverse course on renewable energy in favor of fossil fuels. Trump had issued an executive order on April 8 aimed at state climate laws, and the Environmental Protection Agency had canceled billions of dollars in Biden-era environmental grants last month — a move that a federal judge ruled against on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
This was an idea that the SSA was never seriously considering due to the outrageous costs. They lucked out with Trump’s election. Now they have a scapegoat and don’t have to admit they were never serious about pursuing this ridiculous approach to powering the boats.
The world’s first fully-electric ferry, MF Ampere, celebrates 10 years of groundbreaking success, proving the viability of sustainable maritime transport
Since its launch in 2015, the MF Ampere has transformed the maritime industry, sailing an astonishing distance equivalent to 17 times around the equator entirely on battery power.
https://www.workboat.com/passenger-vessels/first-all-electric-ferry-in-u-s-reaches-milestone
Trump is destroying American Exceptionalism.
Have you looked at that boat? It’s barely bigger than the Chappy Ferry. The comparison couldn’t be more ridiculous if you’d shown us a picture of a rubber ducky in a bathtub.
Has anybody built an electric ferry the size of an SSA boat?
In a manner of speaking, yes. The US Navy has, though it wasn’t a ferry.
We’re talking about an electric drive train comparable to a submarine. For that matter, a boat weight, comparable to a WW2 submarine. According to Google, the M/V Island Home displaces 1950 tons, with a gross tonnage of 4,311. A Balao-class submarine displaces 1526 tons surfaced and 2414 tons submerged. Think of the movie “Down Periscope”, that was the USS Pampanito museum playing the role of the Stingray. We’re talking about an engine that can push THAT.
It then has to make a 15 mile round trip, half of which will probably have a headwind, and then it has to recharge in the 30 minutes it takes to unload and reload. This is a WHOLE different challenge than that little runabout you showed us.
The boat has been operation for over a decade , proof of concept, it has more than half capacity of one of our freight boats, it’s run is more than twice as long, it will scale up.
https://maritime-executive.com/article/norway-s-largest-battery-powered-ferry-starts-delivery-run-from-turkey
The challenge has been met.
The trend line of solar, wind turbines, EV’s, and electric ferry boats will not be stopped.
Trump can not stop American Exceptionalism.
Submarines are electric.
The Chappy ferry is perfect application for electric.
Even on an August afternoon they spend more time at the dock than underway.
There’s is no technical reason that the an SSA electric ferry can not get 30 miles of run in in 15 minutes.
The future of so many things is electric.
Look at the trend lines.
I did not show a runabout.
A decade in service car passenger ferry
If you have a headwind, you also have a tailwind–canceling each other.
You also have both port locations from which to charge.
At least be honest in your assessment, please.
Ah yes, it’s a premise you don’t believe in, so it must be heretofore be referred to as “ridiculous.” Logic and reasoning be damned!
Going full-on electric out of the box without a thorough cost/benefit analysis is ill-advised. To go hybrid one boat at a time, we would at least achieve real-time information from the actual operation of a partially-electrified ferry in the challenging conditions of New England weather, particularly in winter with the cold and windy periods.
Excuses, excuses
The State has legislated climate and emissions standards and a timetable.
Where does Steamship stand relative to those standards?
The State should not authorize any additional bonding (the little control it has over SSA) until Steamship demonstrates how it will comply with that legislation.
Otherwise this is all a charade.
Guys: This tiny little Alabama ferry, the”Ampere”, can take 15 cars and 113 people. It travels down a tiny, placid river. Enough of Albert Hess’ Fake News. It’s 2025.
Hey Jim, How about we get back to running a reliable ferry service before we explore Spending millions on yet another new ferry design, and buildings. How about a commuter fast ferry?
Electric powered commercial vessels are a fantasy? https://alternative-fuels-observatory.ec.europa.eu/pilot-projects
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