Another Environmentally Friendly Ferry for San Francisco

Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders recently delivered TAURUS, their fourth high-speed, environmentally friendly ferry to the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) located in San Francisco. WETA mandated that their new passenger ferries integrate as much green technology as possible and that emissions be 85 percent cleaner than the current EPA emission standards. The builders started with a sleek, low wake 36-metre catamaran hull, designed by Incat Crowther of Australia, to minimise shore erosion from wake and reduce fuel consumption. The vessels are powered by a pair of Tier II compliant, MTU 16V2000 diesel engines with selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR). Using a biodiesel/ultra-low sulphur diesel blend in conjunction with SCR, these ferries exceed Tier II requirements by more than 85 percent in trials and by 90 to 95 percent in actual operation. In addition to minimal shore impact and low emissions, the passenger ferries showcase several additional green features: custom exhaust systems minimise noise pollution; solar panels augment the electrical system; sonar system allows the captain to detect and avoid whales and debris.

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