A Washington State team working to accelerate ferry technology through a joint innovation project approach has been selected to receive over US$372,000 in funding to be awarded by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The public-private partnership team is being led by the Washington Maritime Blue consortium and local vessel operator Kitsap Transit to advance the hydrofoil ferry design and the business case for sustainable operations.
Additional funding for the project will be provided by a number of Washington-based organisations.
The vessel, which will be designed by naval architecture firms Glosten and Bieker Boats, will have a carbon fibre hull and provisions for either all-electric or diesel-electric propulsion. DNV GL is providing technical assistance for the project.
The ferry is expected to speed up travel between some of the urban centres and suburban and rural communities in Washington State.