New Vessel Repowering Part of Cross Sound Ferry's Fleet Improvement Program

ORIENT, NY — Four new diesel marine engines have been installed in the Cross Sound Ferry's Jessica W as part of a green initiative aimed at reducing emissions and pollutants from the fleet.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act announced the completion of the project in partnership with the Cross Sound Ferry and the Connecticut Maritime Foundation to purchase and install the new diesel marine engines in the Jessica W, operating out of New London, CT, according to a release last week.

The vessel provides year-round service to Orient Point, Long Island, NY and seasonal service to Block Island, RI.

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, the releasesaid.

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, according to the release.

The Jessica W now operates on four American made Caterpillar 3512 CHD high-speed diesel engines.

The work is critical, because diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in areas such as New London County, CT, 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 state, the release said.

"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," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. “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, or NOx, by 35.2 tons and particulate matter 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. 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.” said John P. Wronowski, owner and president of Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc.

Since 2010, CSF has undertaken a green initiative aimed at reducing emissions and pollutants from its ferry fleet.

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.

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

Patch photo courtesy Cross Sound Ferry. Caption: Adam Wronowski, Cross Sound Ferry vice president, and Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office review the steps taken to repower the ferry Jessica W.