Staten Island Ferry to burn cleaner fuels as NYC transitions ferry fleet to ‘renewable diesel’

The Staten Island Ferry is set to burn cleaner fuels as New York City seeks to transition its ferry fleet to “renewable diesel,” a petroleum-free fuel with fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
“While full electrification remains our goal, getting the city’s ferry fleet off of polluting fossil fuels makes New York City a safer place for all of our residents and visitors,” Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said Monday.
The fuel, which has been used by the city’s municipal motor pool for nearly a year, is a blend of alcohols, oils, fats and hydrogen that makes a renewable, cleaner-burning chemical equivalent to traditional diesel.
Distinct from biodiesel — but also based on sustainable substances like vegetable oil — renewable diesel does not require any engine modifications to work.
Keith Kerman, the city’s chief fleet officer and a deputy commissioner with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, told the Daily News on Monday that the city’s land-based vehicles have been using the fuel since last November with nary a hiccup.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, that the Staten Island Ferry fleet will run on synthetic diesel fuel by the end of 2025. (Evan Simko-Bednarski / New York Daily News)The long-term sustainability of renewable diesel remains to be seen, given the typically carbon-intensive processes involved in producing vegetable oils.
But according to the U.S. Energy Department, renewable diesel can produce as little as 40% of the carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions associated with traditional diesel fuel.
City Transportation Department officials said Monday that greenhouse gas emissions from the Staten Island Ferry represent 15% of the city government’s transportation emissions.
The first ferry to get the greener fuel will be the Sen. John J. Marchi, which entered service in 2005.
Should the Marchi take to the fuel, it will be rolled out to the other nine boats in the fleet by the end of 2025.
John Garvey, Staten Island Ferry’s chief operating officer, said he felt “very confident” that the fuel would work well.
NYC Ferry, the city’s other ferry fleet whose boats are owned by the city Economic Development Corp. but run through a contract with private operator Hornblower, will begin testing the new fuel as well.
“It’s a very, very different kind of ferry,” Economic Development Corp. CEO Andrew Kimball said. “It’s smaller, it’s faster, and so we want to make sure we pilot it.”
“Assuming it does play out well, which we think it will, we’ll be able to fully implement [the fuel] throughout the system next year.”