SUSTAINABLE HEAVY-DUTY INITIATIVES FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

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Project

Zero Emission Sustainable Transportation (ZEST)

San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD) in collaboration with Star & Crescent Boat Company, D.B.A. Flagship Cruises & Events, Aurora Marine Design, and the Port of San Diego, will be designing and constructing two new battery-electric ferries that will replace Flagship’s diesel ferries, providing service from downtown San Diego’s Broadway Pier and the San Diego Convention Center to Coronado. The Project will be upgrading facilities at the Broadway Pier and the Convention Center to accommodate the installation of the 350kW DC fast chargers for shoreside charging of the new battery-electric ferries.

Expected Benefits:

  • This project will deliver multiple benefits to include:
  • Improve local air quality by reducing emissions near low-income and disadvantaged communities.
  • Cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through ferry decarbonization.
  • Provide increased, affordable transit options with 17% greater capacity, reducing reliance on car travel across the Coronado Bridge.
  • Support workforce development by advancing skills in battery-electric vessel technologies.
Benefits include:
  • Reduction of 2,827 metric tons of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
  • Reduction of 57,654 pounds of NOx (nitrogen oxides).
  • Reduction of 277 pounds of DPM (diesel particulate matter).
  • Reduction of 265 pounds of PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤2.5 microns).
  • Reduction of 2,477 pounds of ROG (reactive organic gases).

Outreach/Workforce Components:

  • Newly created battery electric vessel training with the Maritime Institute
  • Workforce development training through the Port of San Diego for Priority Populations interested in clean technology and maritime careers

Vehicles/Equipment Funded:

  • Vessel: Early Implementation
  • Infrastructure: Planning

Lessons Learned:

Not applicable at this time.

Status:

  • Participating in various outreach events to inform the public about the upcoming vessels.
  • Finishing the development of the bid package and shipyard contracting for the design and construction of two new battery-electric ferries, expected to be released in October.
  • Finalizing the ferry landing page on the flagship website.
Project URL: https://www.flagshipsd.com/eferry

Technology:

Tags:


Vehicles / Equipment Status:​

Infrastructure Status:

Project Facts​

  • DATES: December 2024 – May 2027
  • GRANTEE: San Diego County Air Pollution Control District
  • PARTNERS: Flagship Cruises & Events, Aurora Marine Design, Momentum, Port of San Diego, Maritime Institute
  • LOCATION: San Diego’s Broadway Pier and the San Diego Convention Center
  • GRANT NO.: G22-ATDP-04

Grant Amount​

  • CARB Contribution: $15,272,401
  • Matching Funds: $5,655,134
  • PROJECT TOTAL: $20,927,535

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