This fall, San Francisco Bay Ferry celebrated the commissioning of Zalophus, the agency’s newest high-speed passenger ferry and the 19th vessel in the SF Bay Ferry fleet.
Zalophus follows Karl, which entered service in spring 2025. The vessels are the nation’s cleanest high-speed, high-capacity passenger ferries and are powered by four U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 engines equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF).
As the fourth vessel in the Dorado class and the last diesel vessel to be commissioned into service, Zalophus marks an important transition into the next phase for SF Bay Ferry. The agency is currently undergoing a transition to zero-emission technology for new shortrun and existing transbay routes. The effort includes terminal electrification and the construction of the nation’s first high-speed, battery-electric passenger ferries. The first five vessels are currently under construction and expected to enter service in early 2027.
Zalophus’s name was nominated by second grader Reed Marvin, who attends Marilyn Avenue STEAM Academy in Livermore. He chose the name because it is the scientific name of the California sea lion, famous in the Bay. The name was voted on by the public and approved by SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors.
The vessel was built by Mavrik Marine in La Conner, Wash., and is the fourth vessel in its class, preceded by Karl, Dorado, and Delphinus. Zalophus construction management services were provided by Aurora Marine Design.
Like its predecessor, Zalophus has a seating capacity of 320, a fully enclosed upper deck area, bike storage and an expansive bar layout. The vessel has a top speed of 36 knots when all four engines are in operation. Zalophus has begun service on the Vallejo route and is compatible with all SF Bay Ferry routes.