SEATTLE – Washington State Ferries is moving forward with converting its three Jumbo Mark II class ferries, the largest in the fleet, from diesel to hybrid electric propulsion. In early October, the trustee administering the nationwide federal Volkswagen settlement approved up to $35 million to support retrofitting the first of the ferries from diesel to electric power.

The ferry system is the largest consumer of diesel fuel in the state with over 18 million gallons of diesel burned each year, and the three Jumbo Mark II ferries account for 26 percent of total fuel consumption.

The vessel conversion design will begin this month. Planning and design will continue through 2020 and construction will begin in 2021.

In addition to cost savings and reduced maintenance costs, converting the Jumbo Mark IIs will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 48,000 metric tons per year – that’s like taking more than 10,000 cars off the road.