The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Southeast Conference (SEC) are partnering to conduct a Low Emission Ferry Research project with the idea being alternative fuel powered, low emission, and electric ferries potentially being a game-changer for the Alaska Marine Highway System. These ideas are being considered as DOT&PF begins to replace AMHS’s aging fleet in upcoming years.
SEC Executive Director, Robert Venables, spoke at KPEDD’s 2022 Industry Outlook Forum in Kenai in January on the idea of an all-electric vessel:
“The community of Skagway has really been interested in seeing how to move forward with electrification and so how can we utilize hydro resources in everyday life. We talk about the benefits of electrification, here’s one way to meet a federal goal of lowering emissions. We’re trying to twin those and take a look at what is the right size vessels and where could they go?”
Southeast Conference will support the project, which will include a detailed examination of the costs, benefits, and overall technical and financial feasibility of low-emission ferry operations within the Alaska Marine Highway System service area. Funding for the research comes from a new program through the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide grants for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries and for the electrification of existing ferries to reduce emissions.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in March 2022 agreeing to the management of duties for both organizations in this joint project. The state agreed to contract with SEC to support this low-emission, electric ferry service analysis with regional facilitation, and provide technical assistance, data sharing, and plan designs as requested.
Click here for the PowerPoint slides of a presentation Venables conducted in January. Click below to watch the presentation:
