As North America’s largest ferry operator, Washington State Ferries (WSJ) burns around 17.5 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) per year.
That’s no small line item.
Fuel is the agency’s fastest growing operating expense – in 2000 it made up just 11 per cent of the annual operating budget, compared to 23 per cent in 2013.
David Moseley, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division Assistant Secretary, says the agency started looking at the possibility of using liquefied natural gas (LNG) about three and a half years ago.
“There are really two reasons,” he says. “One is the rising cost of petroleum fuel and the other major factor was emissions. We have an obligation to reduce our emissions and LNG is a cleaner-burning fuel.”
WSJ is currently considering converting six vessels in their Issaquah Class of ferries. The vessels are 30 years old and have another 30 years of expected operational life remaining.
