Washington State Ferries (WSF) is in the middle of one of the most ambitious electrification programs in the country. Over the past year, WSF successfully converted the largest hybrid-electric passenger vessel in the U.S., finalized design on two new hybrid-electric ferries now entering construction, and is preparing to issue an RFP for its first terminal electrification in Seattle, among other accomplishments.
WSF is no longer exploring what electric ferry operations could look like — it is building them.
This session brings together key program partners to report on progress, share lessons learned, and look ahead at the work still to come. The discussion will cover the technical and programmatic realities of moving from a single vessel conversion to fleet-wide implementation, including how to adapt proven technology to the unique demands of Puget Sound, and how to engineer power infrastructure, onboard propulsion, energy storage, and vessel systems as a coordinated whole.
Attendees will:
- Receive an update on the program, what has worked, and what the transition from pilot project to fleet-wide electrification required
- Understand the technical considerations that determine success in hybrid-electric ferry programs
- Learn how early propulsion and power system choices can preserve flexibility for future zero-emission upgrades
- Hear about the next stage of the program, Seattle terminal electrification
- Leave with an understanding of why electric ferries can cost less than diesel — and why that finding is reshaping how the industry thinks about electrification
