How ABB Differentiates Itself in the Electrification of Large Ferries

Hybrid-electric propulsion is increasingly adopted in passenger and vehicle ferry fleets to reduce emissions, cut fuel consumption and improve operational reliability. In the United States, Washington State Ferries (WSF) is beginning a large-scale transition to hybrid-electric vessels, and ABB has been selected to supply the core propulsion and energy management technology for the first ships of this program. Understanding why ABB’s system was chosen offers insight into how its technology stands apart in this rapidly evolving market.

Application Areas: Large Passenger and Vehicle Ferries in High-Frequency Routes
The new hybrid-electric systems will be deployed on two 160-auto ferries serving short, high-rotation routes in the Puget Sound region. Such routes demand high reliability, rapid charging capability, low noise, and the ability to switch seamlessly between battery and engine power. WSF’s long-term electrification strategy covers up to 16 vessels by 2040, making scalability and lifecycle performance central considerations.

Why ABB’s Technology Was Selected Over Other Solutions
WSF’s procurement emphasizes integration, energy efficiency and proven large-scale battery handling capabilities. ABB’s package integrates power distribution, energy management and marine automation in a single architecture. The system is built on ABB Onboard DC Grid™ and the PEMS™ power and energy management platform, enabling optimized load control and efficient hybrid-mode operations.

A defining factor is the ability to accommodate what will be the largest marine battery systems installed on any U.S. ship to date — 13.2 MWh per vessel. This capacity enables fully electric operation on short routes and emissions-free port stays, reducing both fuel use and local air pollution compared with existing vessels.

Integrated Systems as a Differentiator in Fleet-Scale Electrification
WSF aims to minimize technical and schedule risk across multiple newbuilds. ABB had already been involved as the propulsion single-source vendor during the project’s early engineering phase, allowing the integration plan to mature ahead of construction. This continuity reduces the likelihood of interface issues during shipbuilding and accelerates the path to standardized, replicable designs for subsequent vessels.

The contracted scope includes fully integrated power distribution, automation and energy systems rather than discrete components assembled from different suppliers. This end-to-end responsibility is a major competitive differentiator, particularly for large ferry operators migrating entire fleets toward electrification.

Operational Benefits: Efficiency, Costs and Environmental Performance
Compared with conventional diesel-powered ferries operating the same routes, the hybrid-electric propulsion package is designed to reduce fuel consumption and lower operating costs through optimized engine use and battery-supported bursts of power.

Battery-dominant operation also reduces vibration and underwater noise, improving passenger comfort and limiting disturbance to marine ecosystems — an important factor in Puget Sound.

Program Impact and Future Expansion
The first two ferries will be delivered in 2030 and 2031 by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, with an option for a third vessel included in the current agreement. This contract establishes the technological foundation for the broader WSF System Electrification Program, the largest ferry electrification initiative currently planned in the United States.

The deployment confirms ABB’s position as a leading supplier capable of delivering large-scale hybrid-electric propulsion systems that demonstrate operational reliability, scalability for fleetwide rollout and readiness for increasingly large marine battery capacities.

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