Switch Maritime urges Washington to explore leased hydrogen fuel-cell ferries

Switch Maritime told the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 19 that Washington should study leasing hydrogen fuel-cell ferries as a capital-efficient way to renew its aging fleet.

Seamus Nolan, director of commercial and government affairs at Switch Maritime, told the committee the company proposes proviso language directing the Joint Transportation Committee to "explore the potential use of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion and the lease structure for future Washington State ferries vessel procurement." He said a leased model shifts development and operational risk to the vessel provider and delays state lease payments until the vessel receives a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of inspection.

The company’s CEO, identified in the transcript as Elias (transcript contains multiple spellings), described Switch’s SeaChange ferry and its U.S. operational experience. "Our first project is the SeaChange ferry, which is currently operational in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it is the first hydrogen fuel cell vessel that is commercially operating in The US and certified by the US Coast Guard," he said.

Switch emphasized fuel logistics as a selling point. Nolan described a mobile supply chain used in other U.S. operations: hydrogen tank trailers, a mobile compression skid and on‑site fueling that does not require installing shore-side charging infrastructure at ports. He told senators the MF Hydra vessel design—operational in Norway—can be adapted to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements and scaled to match capacity needs.

Committee members pressed the company on technical fit and fuel availability. Senator Gaynor asked whether the design could be adapted; Switch answered the platform is "quite flexible" and could be redesigned to meet Washington State Ferries’ speed and size needs. Senator Christian asked where hydrogen would be sourced; Nolan said much Pacific Northwest hydrogen production is currently in California, Oregon and Vancouver and that the modeled initial vessel would use about "2.5 tons per week" for the San Juan–Anacortes route. He noted the cancellation of a Pacific Northwest hydrogen hub has left in-state production uncertain over the next two to five years.

Switch urged further study rather than immediate procurement, proposing a budget proviso to fund a joint committee exploration of leased hydrogen ferries, compatibility assessments with existing terminals, and the Coast Guard gap analysis needed to build to U.S. standards.

The committee did not take action on the proposal and moved on to other agenda items. The work session provided lawmakers with technical and procurement framing they can use if they pursue proviso language or amendments during executive action next week.