The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) approved the construction of a new “green” ferry that runs from Cape May, NJ to Lewes, DE to help move the transportation system towards a more sustainable future.
The contract has been awarded to SENESCO Marine LLC to build a 75-car passenger/vehicle ferry and will have a new diesel hybrid engine. It will eventually replace the MV Cape Henlopen, which has been in service for over 40 years.
The aim of the new ferry is designed to be eco-friendly while also reducing costs. Emissions at sea will be decreased, with zero emissions near the dock and port. The estimated annual reductions are 2,025 tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of 440 average-sized cars, and five tons of carbon monoxide.
“For sustainable ferry operations in the future, it’s imperative we make this necessary capital investment today,” said DRBA Executive Director Joel Coppadge.
After the DRBA held meetings and town halls to solicit public input, it was decided that the new ferry size met both demand and cost considerations. The trip between Cape May and Lewes will still approximately remain an 85-minute voyage.
“The new vessel will be much more efficient, but not necessarily faster,” said DRBA Director of Communications and Marketing James E. Salmon. “The current engines on our vessels are circa 1938 technology. The new vessel is the first step in our fleet modernization program.”
The contract terms are still being finalized, but construction is expected to begin this summer, according to Salmon.
The plan is to have the vessel join the ferry fleet in the summer of 2029 and to add an additional two ferries in the future.
