JULY 2018 • FOGHORN 19 PERSPECTIVE of ferries in the U.S. is 25 years old, and 95 percent use gas or diesel for operation.  In a state that is home to eight of the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the highest year-round concentration of particulate matter, according to the 2017 American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report, fuel-powered passenger vessels are contributing to the problem. However, the technology is available now to upgrade our aging ferry fleet to modern, sophisticated vessels. These can be economically and environmen- tally-friendly, from the vessel itself to its propulsion systems and charging and energy storage systems.  There’s proof in Norway, where Siemens was the supplier of the electric propulsion technology for the world’s first fully electric ferry, the MF Ampere. It’s capable of carrying 360 passen- gers and 120 vehicles, and completes a 10-mile crossing 34 times per day. The ferry is driven by electric motors with accompanying lithium-ion batteries.  Siemens worked with shipbuilder Fjellstrand to design and build not only the ferry, but also the innovative on-shore charging stations, about the size of a newsstand.  While docked, the ship’s batteries are recharged directly from the grid at night after the ferry stops operating.  This solution is both simple and ingenious.  The Ampere is a true showcase of what the future of ferry operation can look like in California and across the U.S. A conventional ferry traveling the same route as the Ampere consumes around 2.64 million gallons of diesel fuel and emits 2,680 tons of carbon dioxide and 37 tons of nitrogen oxide each year.  With electricity provided to charge the Ampere coming from local hydroelectric plants, its operation doesn’t emit even one gram of carbon dioxide directly or indirectly.  Other regions are learning from the Norwegian experience and are looking at hybrid or all-electric propul- sion as a solution. After meeting with the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Washington State Ferries has just announced their intent to add batteries to their Jumbo Mark II class of ferries. They plan to remove two diesels from each ferry and replace with a bank of batteries to save fuel and reduce emissions. And yes, Washington State is looking to us the same VW NOx fund that Californians can access. They are not alone as other states are looking at using the same funding source. You and your state can apply to use these funds as well. We encourage Californians to take the lead in the U.S. in green solutions for the shipbuilding industry.  CARB has initiated a public process, including workshops in several California cities, About the Author David Grucza is the business head of marine solutions at PVA Associate member Siemens in Alpharetta, GA. This originally appeared on January 29, 2018, on Siemans’ blog post and LinkedIn. to receive feedback about investment opportunities.  We hope you take a moment to submit your comments in support of environmentally-friendly passenger vessels and/or work boats. n