Another eco-ferry to set sail in San Francisco

Jun 05, 2009 0 Comments by nathan

The Maritime Reporter tells us about the new small passenger ferry “Pisces” about to set sail on San Francisco Bay.

Pisces is the second of two 25 knot, 149-passenger vessels recently built by WETA. The City of Alameda manages the Harbor Bay ferry service and contracts with Harbor Bay Maritime to operate the service. The City of Alameda chartered the WETA-owned ferry for use on the Harbor Bay Ferry service.

Like its sister vessel, Gemini, which set sail on the Tiburon-San Francisco commute in December 2008, Pisces is the nation’s most environmentally friendly ferryboat. Its exhaust is 85% cleaner than EPA emissions standards for Tier II (2007) marine engines and is ten times cleaner than existing Bay Area ferries. Pisces also incorporates innovative measures to protect bay and marine life, including low-wake, low-wash hulls.

Video

Former WETA Chief Engineer Mary Frances Culnane discusses the environmentally friendly design of the sister ship, the Gemini on CNN.

Read More

Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) – Fact page on the Pisces

Technology

About the author

Nathan Menefee is an active duty Lieutenant serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in the San Francisco Bay area. He also holds an Unlimited Third Mate's License, and possesses a QMED and Tankerman PIC endorsement. He is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

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