The MV Delaware, part of the Cape May-Lewis Ferry fleet has been delivered to the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) following a five month spell in dry-dock for ship efficiency retrofits.
The ferry has been fitted with new electro-motive division (EMD) engines to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 40%. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are expected to be reduced by 39.7 tonnes and particulate matter by 0.5 tonnes.
The project was facilitated by a Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant of $970,000 by the United States (US) Environmental protection Agency (EPA). The DRBA sought the grant funding through the National Clean Diesel Assistance Program.
The total cost of the engines from Marine Systems Inc were USD 1.8 million while the entire dry docking period was completed at a cost of USD 3.5 million.
The MV Delaware is used to transport visitors to Cape May County and other destinations throughout South Jersey. The repowering and retrofit project is expected to improve the state of the ferry service, increase reliability of its vessels, improve operational capability by permitting higher cruising speeds, and reduce maintenance required.
Last month, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), through the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, awarded the Delaware Bay ferry service a USD 6 million grant to help repower and retrofit the remaining vessels in the fleet: MV New Jersey and MV Cape Henlopen.
Ship Efficiency Review News
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