The US’ first hydrogen powered electric ferry’s aluminium construction contract secured by AAM

All American Marine (AAM) has secured a contract from Switch Maritime to complete the aluminium construction and outfitting of a 21-m, 84-passenger, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered, electric-drive ferry that will operate in the California Bay Area.

The project to build the vessel – both project and vessel are called Water-Go-Round – began at Bay Ship & Yacht shipyard in Alameda, California, and is being transferred to AAM.

When launched, the Water-Go-Round vessel will be the US’ first hydrogen fuel cell vessel and the world’s first commercial fuel cell ferry.

The project is funded in part by private capital from Switch Maritime, an investment platform seeking to build North America’s first fleet of zero-emission vessels. The project is also partially funded by a US$3M grant from the California Air Resources Board, as part of the California Climate Investments initiative, a state-wide program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The consortium backing the project, Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, will provide the hydrogen fuel cell power package and serve as a technical and regulatory consultant on the project.

AAM president and chief executive Matt Mullett said: “We believe hydrogen fuel cell technology will prove to be a robust alternative to conventional powertrain technologies.”