Bay Area Christens Gemini, the Nation's Most Environmentally Friendly Ferry

The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) joined with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and other agencies to christen the first of its fleet of ferries today. Called Gemini, the 149-passenger vessel initially will be put into use on the existing Alameda/ Oakland-San Francisco and Tiburon-San Francisco ferry routes. The arrival of Gemini also begins to fulfill WETA’s expanded emergency response role, as Geminiwill be available as a spare vessel in case of temporary disruption of transit service or damage to the Bay area highways and bridges. 

On hand was Bill Dodd, chair of MTC, which funded the ferry through bridge tolls generated by Regional Mesaure 2 (RM 2). "Ultimately RM 2 will provide $80 million in capital improvements for Bay Area ferry services plus additional funds to operate the ferries," he said.

Representative Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) and WETA Board Chair Charlene Haught Johnson performed the actual christening ceremony, smashing ceremonial bottles across the anchor.

Johnson applauded the Bay Area for coming together to enable WETA to build a fleet of ferries that are revolutionizing the ferry industry. "Gemini’s innovative design and propulsion technology shows that the Bay Area is on the forefront of environmental innovation. We responded to the concern of local communities for cleaner air and Bay protection," Johnson said.Gemini has been called the nation's most environmentally friendly ferry.

'This new boat helps to create jobs as well," Congresswoman Lee said. "For every dollar we invest in public transportation, we reap $6 in economic benefits."

Gemini set sail on Nov. 24 from Whidbey Island, Wash., where she was constructed by two Washington state boat builders — Ice Floe, Inc. dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB), and Kvichak Marine Industries (KMI).  She passed under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Nov. 25 on her way to Alameda, where Bay Ship and Yacht Company, a subcontractor to NBBB, cleaned the hull and perormed a final survey before the official launch.

Gemini’s exhaust is 85 percent cleaner than EPA emission standards for Tier II (2007) marine engines, and is 10 times cleaner than existing Bay Area ferries. Two solar panels installed on the bridge deck will gauge the feasibility of solar power in the Bay’s foggy conditions. The catamaran’s sleek hull design reduces fuel consumption and minimizes shoreline response to wake impacts. Other innovative measures include sonar for avoiding whale strikes and floating debris, and a propulsion system that operates on a blend of biodiesel and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. Gemini also includes space for 34 bicycles and Wi-Fi Internet service.

Gemini will be put into service on the Alameda/Oakland Ferry and Tiburon routes in January 2009 after modifications to the Alameda and Oakland docks.

The Gemini was built under a contract with the Nichols Brothers/Kvichak team; a sister ship (Pisces) will follow in March 2009. The total $16 million cost of the first two spare vessels is being paid for with RM 2 bridge toll funds disbursed by MTC.

Kvichak is also building two additional 199-passenger vessels for WETA, which will be delivered in late 2009. MTC is covering $12 million of the $17 million cost of these two boats with RM 2 bridge toll funds, with the remainder coming from federal and state grants. Passed by Bay Area voters in 2004, RM 2 raised tolls by $1 on the Bay Area's state-owned toll bridges to finance a range of transportation projects. The four new vessels will eventually be put into service on either the new South San Francisco-Oakland route and/or the proposed Berkeley/Albany-to-San Francisco route and also will be used as spare vessels for emergency response.

"The importance of our ferry systems was demonstrated after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake knocked the Bay Bridge out of service for a month," MTC's Dodd said. "But ferries have moved in to fill gaps in our regional transportation system more recently as well. When the Bay Bridge was shut down in both directions during last year's Labor Day weekend, the Alameda-Oakland and Vallejo ferry services both pushed their fleets to the limit to provvide extra service."

Michael Bettenhausen, director of the California Governor's Office of Homeland Security, echoed that idea. "It's not a matter of if, but when, a major disaster will occur in the Bay Area. The Gemini adds to our capacity to deal with emergency situations. The ability to move people and first responders is an emergency response capability that is critical in an environment like the Bay Area," he said.

Environmental and design studies are under way for new ferry routes to Berkeley, Redwood City, Hercules, Richmond, Antioch and Martinez.

For further information go to www.watertransit.org.