Global digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther has begun detailed design and naval architecture work on a 28-metre hydrogen fuel cell-electric fast ferry for New York waters.
The vessel is being developed in partnership with New York-based zero-emission vessel developer SWITCH Maritime, with a ZEF-150 demonstration planned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The project is backed by a $2 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Designed to match the operational profile of a conventional diesel ferry, the vessel will offer parallel service speeds of 25 knots, daily bunkering and no requirement for shoreside charging or grid upgrades. It will carry up to 150 passengers and store about 720 kg of compressed hydrogen, enabling a full day of operations across New York routes.
The design is intended as a drop-in solution for operators seeking to decarbonise without altering schedules or infrastructure, particularly on longer routes where battery-electric charging may not be feasible.
The project builds on the partners’ earlier work on Sea Change, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger ferry operating in California’s Bay Area.
