The EPA announced Monday that it’s awarded the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) a $975,000 grant to upgrade engines on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
The ferry’s 40-year-old engines will be replaced with EPA-certified low-emitting marine propulsion engines. The new engines are expected to annually reduce fuel use by 39,600 gallons. This would cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by 443 tons, nitrogen oxide emissions by 39.7 tons and particulate matter by half a ton. According to the EPA, that would decrease emissions by 40 percent or the equivalent to taking 12 diesel tractor trailer trucks off the road.
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EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator Shawn Garvin says in addition to lowering the ferry’s carbon footprint, there are also health benefits to be gained from reducing toxic air emissions into the atmosphere. Numerous studies link climate change to increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
“It helps with asthma, it helps with heart disease, it helps with emphysema, lots of respiratory problems," said Garvin. "We’ve seen the health effects.”
It hasn’t been determined which company will supply the new engines, but they will come from a list approved by the EPA.
Cape May-Lewes Ferry port engineer Joe Gillespie, who pushed for ferry’s upgrade, says the process of removing the boat’s 40-year-old opposed piston diesel engines will be complex.
“We’re going to have to cut a hole in the deck up above here and we’ll have to get big trolleys here and giant chainfalls to remove this old engine," said Gillespie. "This engine, as you can see is 16, 14, 16 feet long. So may cut this in pieces and take it out.”
The new engines will be installed by the end of 2015 and are expected to save the DRBA about $130,000 in maintenance costs.
Heath Gehrke, Director of Operations for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, says they will also extend the lives of the ferry vessels.
“One of the main components that you look at in the life of the ferry is its propulsion system," said Gehrke. "We believe that if we upgrade these engines, we can get another 20 years or so out of these ferries.”
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry celebrated its 50 year anniversary this year.
