39 SEPTEMBER 2026 tion of how to modernize and decarbonize a fleet, rather, it sharpens it. • For high-frequency routes with constrained shoreside real estate, defining features in urban areas, FCEVs offer a lower-disruption path to zero emissions than BEVs, with a TCO premium that narrows over time. FCEVs are also well-suited for remote long-haul routes where grid up- grades are cost prohibitive. • Where route schedules accommodate charging, clean power is cheap and accessible, and operators are able to coordinate with their utilities, ports, and local communi- ties to build charging infrastructure, BEVs can be cost-ef- fective and operationally sound. As half the domestic fleet reaches end-of-life in the coming decade, operators will confront the prospect of transitioning their fleets to new propulsion systems. KPFF’s study shows operators can modernize and futureproof fleets without con- siderable sacrifice. And, while transitioning to BEV or FCEV introduces risks that may feel obscure or insurmountable, managing them is a matter of careful planning and building the right partnerships. With that foundation in place, opera- tors can adopt new technologies with confidence. Seamus Nolan is the Director of Commercial & Gov- ernment Affairs at SWITCH Maritime. At Switch, he leads engagement with partners to broaden SWITCH’s reach and expand its project pipeline of zero-emission vessels. Prior to joining Switch, Seamus served as a member of Senator Patrick Leahy’s economic policy team, where he worked at the intersections of infra- structure investment, climate action, and economic development. Seamus also spent time at Avangrid Networks, where he developed investment strategies to accelerate transportation decarbonization. Seamus holds a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. SEAMUS NOLAN DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, SWITCH MARITIME About the Author Sea Change, is the only FCEV operating in the U.S. as it carries passengers across the San Francisco Bay. PHOTO: SWITCH MARITIME LLC
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