Page 54: of Marine News Magazine (November 2022)

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Feature

Great Vessels of 2022

WETAWETAETA

Owner: WETA

Builder: Mavrik Marine

DORADO

Designer: One2Three Naval Architects dozen bicycles.

While Dorado is the fastest vessel in WETA’s current ? eet with a service speed of 36 knots, it is also the most ? exible, as the ? rst boat built for WETA that can safely dock at any of the system’s 12 ferry terminals. It initially entered service rotating among WETA’s routes to collect operational data and allow passengers across the ferry sys- tem to experience the boat, the agency said.

WETA claims San Francisco Bay Ferry was the fastest growing transit operator in the region prior to the pan- new high-speed passenger vessel that entered demic, with more than 3 million passengers in 2019. Be- service for the San Francisco Bay Area Water tween 2012 and 2019, ridership on the system doubled.

Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) Today, under WETA’s Pandemic Recovery Program, which this year is the agency’s fastest and most agile. took effect in July 2021, ferry ridership is steadily growing.

A

WETA is a regional public transit agency tasked with The program decreased fares 30% across the system and ad- operating and expanding ferry service on the San Fran- justed service to provide more ? exibility for riders. WETA also cisco Bay, and its new 130-foot-long aluminum catama- launched a new integrated ticketing system and smartphone ran Dorado is the ? rst in a series of four newbuilds or- app for San Francisco Bay Ferry to improve and streamline the dered from La Conner, Wash. shipyard Mavrik Marine. fare payment system. By June 2022, ridership on San Fran-

The U.S. Coast Guard-certi? ed Subchapter K ferry was cisco Bay Ferry vessels reached 63% of pre-pandemic levels, designed by Australia-based One2Three Naval Architects, outpacing comparable regional agencies, according to WETA.

and construction management services were provided by Dorado is ? tted with twin MTU 12V 4000 M65L diesel

San Diego-based Aurora Marine Design. engines, producing 2,575 horsepower at 1,800 rpm each, “WETA is building a world class ferry system for the and paired with HamiltonJet HT810 waterjets through

Bay Area and adding new vessels like MV Dorado helps ZF 7600 reduction gears. HamiltonJet also supplies its us get there,” said Jim Wunderman, chair of the WETA AVX package, which includes steering and controls.

board of directors. “This American-made ferry enhances Dorado is the ninth U.S. Environmental Protection the capacity of our ? eet and provides additional ? exibility Agency (EPA) Tier 4 or Tier 4 equivalent passenger ferry in for our operations, helping ensure we run the system as ef- WETA’s ? eet. In 2017, WETA commissioned the nation’s ? ciently as possible. It also happens to be a beautiful ferry.” ? rst Tier 4 equivalent high-speed passenger ferry, Hydrus. In

Vessel construction was funded through the Federal 2019, WETA commissioned the nation’s ? rst Tier 4 certi? ed

Transit Administration and the State of California’s Prop- high-speed passenger ferry, Pyxis. Earlier this year, WETA osition 1B in collaboration with the California Of? ce of re-entered Pisces into service after a conversion project re-

Emergency Services. Construction on the second vessel in placing the vessel’s Tier 2 engines with cleaner Tier 4 engines.

the Dorado class, Delphinus, is underway. Dorado and its three sister vessels are expected to be

Dorado has capacity for 320 passengers with indoor and WETA’s ? nal new ferries equipped with diesel propulsion, outdoor seating across two decks, while expansive outdoor as the agency expects to order only zero-emission passenger passenger space allows more riders to experience a fresh- ferries going forward. In fact, it expects to begin work on air trip across the Bay. It also has room on board for three its ? rst two zero-emission vessels before year end.

54 | MN November 2022