The DRBA's New Hybrid Ferry Approved For Cape May–Lewes Route

The DRBA Commission on Nov. 18 unanimously approved a contract with SENESCO Marine LLC of North Kingstown, R.I., to build and outfit a new 75-car passenger and vehicle ferry as pictured in this computer rendering.

DRBA awards $78.6 million contract for diesel-electric vessel expected to cut emissions, replace aging Cape Henlopen in 2029

NEW CASTLE, Del. — The Delaware River and Bay Authority has taken a major step toward adding a new “green” ferry to the Cape May–Lewes Ferry fleet, awarding a $78.6 million construction contract for a diesel-hybrid vessel expected to begin service later this decade.

The DRBA Commission on Nov. 18 unanimously approved a contract with SENESCO Marine LLC of North Kingstown, R.I., to build and outfit a new 75-car passenger and vehicle ferry. The new vessel is expected to eventually replace the MV Cape Henlopen, an over 40-year-old diesel-powered ferry that currently runs between Lewes, Delaware, and Cape May, New Jersey.

“For sustainable ferry operations in the future, it’s imperative we make this necessary capital investment today,” DRBA Executive Director Joel Coppadge said in a statement. “The Ferry’s a critical piece of regional infrastructure and we’re proud of the Ferry’s heritage and link between two historic destinations. The new hybrid ferry is the start of the next chapter in the proud history of the Cape May–Lewes Ferry.”

The hybrid vessel is designed to significantly reduce emissions while cutting fuel use by an estimated 35%. DRBA officials say the ferry will operate with lower emissions at sea and zero emissions while in port or docked. Annual reductions are projected at 2,025 tons of carbon dioxide, 102.7 tons of nitrogen dioxide, 1.51 tons of fine particulate matter, 1.03 tons of hydrocarbons, and 5 tons of carbon monoxide.

“The Cape May–Lewes Ferry is a vital transportation link and an economic catalyst for the southern regions of Delaware and New Jersey,” said Heath Gehrke, the authority’s director of ferry operations. “Hundreds of thousands of people rely on our year-round service to get them safely across to work, visit loved ones, get to that vacation destination or to avoid the hassle of highway congestion. By moving forward with our vessel modernization effort, we’re ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy a break from the ordinary aboard the Cape May–Lewes Ferry.”

The $78.6 million project is being partially funded with a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The contract award is subject to a 10-day review and consent period by the governors of Delaware and New Jersey.

With the bid awarded, construction on the new ferry is slated to begin early next year, with a projected completion date in summer 2029.

The DRBA, a bi-state agency created in 1962, owns and operates the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Forts Ferry Crossing, and manages five airports in Delaware and New Jersey.

Since it began service on July 1, 1964, the Cape May–Lewes Ferry has carried more than 50 million passengers across the Delaware Bay. DRBA officials say the ferry system supports more than 4,000 jobs and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in regional economic activity, making the new hybrid vessel both an environmental and economic investment in the future of coastal Delaware and South Jersey.