Coronado ferry’s new, quieter electric boats are one step closer to reality

Plans to make San Diego a national leader in modern maritime transit took a key step forward this month when the company that runs the San Diego-Coronado Ferry began soliciting bids for new electric boats.

The company, Flagship Cruises & Events, plans to spend $21 million replacing two diesel-powered boats with electric ferries that will reduce pollution on San Diego Bay and nearby neighborhoods.

Shipbuilders have until Jan. 9 to submit bids to build the new vessels. Flagship officials say they plan to select a builder in early February.

The boats will take over for two long-running vessels — the Cabrillo and the Silvergate — and operate two existing ferry routes, one from Coronado to Broadway Pier and another from Coronado to the convention center.

In addition to reducing emissions to zero and ending decades of the boats spewing harmful particulate matter into the air, the switch will eliminate fumes and make the boats quieter.

Flagship has estimated the new boats will be ready to take over in fall 2026.

Flagship got a $15.3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board to cover the lion’s share of the cost. Flagship will cover the other $5.5 million.

“Bringing in a shipyard to construct the first purpose-built ferries of their kind — with capacity for 275 passengers — marks a major step forward in advancing sustainable transportation on the waterfront,” said Flagship president Brad Engel.

The company is ...