Switch Maritime to launch first US hydrogen ferry

Ahydrogen-fuelled vessel will begin commercial services in the United States for the first time after the US Coast Guard approved Switch Maritime’s Sea Change to begin trial operations.

After receiving a Certificate of Inspection, the zero-emissions vessel will run a six-month service under the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) before being moved to a more permanent route.

The 75-passenger capacity vessel has been in the works since Switch was founded in 2018 and is the first of a series of hydrogen fuel cell-powered ferries being developed by the company.

The demonstration service will operate under WETA’s San Francisco Bay Ferry brand and is backed by a public-private partnership that includes notable names such as United, the Golden State Warriors, Blue & Gold fleet, and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District.