New London Cross Sound Ferry Repowers High-Speed Ferry to Improve New London County Air Quality

NEW LONDON, CT - The U.S. EPA, under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), is pleased to announce the completion of a project in partnership with Cross Sound Ferry (CSF) and the Connecticut Maritime Foundation.

The project, to purchase and install four new diesel marine engines in the high-speed JESSICA W passenger ferry operating out of New London, has been completed. The vessel provides year-round service to Orient Point, Long Island, N.Y. and seasonal service to Block Island, R.I., according to a release.

The project was partially funded by an EPA DERA grant of $800,000 to purchase and install two new state-of-the-art EPA Tier-3 certified marine engines replacing older diesel marine engines that were operating in the vessel.

CSF contributed more than $1.6 million to purchase two additional engines and perform the work to remove the old engines and install the newer ones. The JESSICA W now operates on four American made Caterpillar 3512 CHD high-speed diesel engines.

Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in areas such as New London County, a county identified by EPA as having high levels of emissions from diesel engines. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms.

Children are especially vulnerable to these effects. The Northeast has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, including a childhood asthma rate above 10 percent in all six New England states.

"Reducing diesel emissions is a proven and effective way to improve air quality. Investing in Clean Diesel projects in New England will protect people’s health, improve air quality and help our economy by keeping jobs here in our communities. We are happy to work with Cross Sound and the Connecticut Maritime Foundation on this very important project," Regional Administrator of EPA's New England Office Curt Spalding said in a release. “Reducing diesel emissions means cleaner air for everyone, which is especially important for people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems.”

The project is anticipated to reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 35.2 tons and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 0.36 tons. The grant covered approximately one-third of the cost to convert the vessel.

“We value the opportunity to work with EPA on this project of repowering the JESSICA W high-speed passenger ferry," Owner and President of Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc. John P. Wronowski said in a release. "This project advances the environmental improvement goals for our fleet of vessels, an effort which began almost ten years ago by deploying new and efficient, low emission engines to improve air quality locally and throughout the region.”

CSF has undertaken a green initiative towards reducing emissions and pollutants from its ferry fleet since 2010. Including the JESSICA W, the company has repowered four of its vessels and performed an engine rebuild in one to cleaner-burning, lower emission engines.

There are plans to repower two additional vessels under EPA’s DERA program. The environmental initiative is focused on helping the local community, while reducing hazardous air pollutants from the area.

The JESSICA W is one of the largest passenger-only, high-speed ferries operating on the east coast of the United States. The 49 meter (160 foot) wave-piercing catamaran primarily serves on the company’s New London to Block Island route for Block Island Express.

The JESSICA W can travel at speeds up to 35 knots, more than 40mph, and makes the trip between New London and Old Harbor Block Island in just over one hour.

Cross Sound Ferry operates daily, year-round vehicle and passenger service between New London and Orient Point. Besides its fleet of seven vehicle and passenger vessels and the JESSICA W, the company also operates the SEA JET I, high-speed passenger-only ferry. The service is recognized as part of the America’s Marine Highway by the U.S. Maritime Administration and transports close to 500,000 vehicles and 1.5 million passengers annually.

Click here for more information on US EPA’s National Clean Diesel Program.

Click here for more information on clean diesel in New England.

Image via Florence Tambone.