Cape May – Lewes Ferry officials announced that the Federal Transit Administration, through the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, has awarded the Delaware Bay ferry service a $6 million grant to help repower and retrofit the MV New Jersey and MV Cape Henlopen.
The MV Delaware was the first vessel to undergo the repowering process and is expected to return to Cape May next month. The ferry is down to one vessel after the other ferry was found to need drydock repairs.
“We’re grateful the Federal Transit Administration recognizes the importance of completing the ferry rehabilitation and repower project and thank our congressional delegations for their efforts securing this grant which will greatly assist that effort,” said William E. Lowe, III chairman of the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA.
“Retrofitting or replacing older diesel engines with American-made technology can dramatically reduce harmful emissions,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “Just over one year ago, we secured funding through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, legislation I championed years ago, to help the Delaware River and Bay Authority retrofit the MV Delaware, and now this funding will go toward the Authority’s other vessels. This federal investment will make our vessels more efficient while helping to clean our air, and that’s what I call a win-win.”
The ferry expects to save about $130,000 per year in maintenance costs associated with old engines. The new, clean diesel engines will also have the capability to be converted to operate on natural gas in the future.
The new propulsion engines are anticipated to reduce fuel use by 39,600 gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 443 tons annually. Also, the upgrade will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 39.7 tons and particulate matter (PM) emissions by nearly half a ton.
The M/V New Jersey and MV Cape Henlopen are currently equipped with two Fairbanks Morse 38D8-1/8 propulsion engines with a power rating of 2,060 horsepower each. More than 40 years old, these workhorse engines are approaching 100,000 operating hours or the equivalent of 1.5 million miles. Also, because the Fairbanks Morse engines are no longer built, spare parts are becoming both difficult to find and expensive.
In May, the MV Delaware will return to active service with new engines following a five-month repowering at Caddell’s Drydock and Repair Company in Staten Island, NY.
The initial repowering project was aided by a $975,000 Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. A welcome home ceremony for the MV Delaware is planned in Cape May for May 31, 2016, and in Lewes on a date yet to be selected.
The Cape May – Lewes Ferry transported about 275,000 vehicles and nearly 1 million passengers.
For schedule, rates and other program information, please visit the ferry’s website at www.CMLF.com, or call toll free, 800-643-3779.
