The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is piloting the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for one of its high-horsepower Staten Island ferries. These vessels – five of them, in total – make more than 100 trips between the island and Lower Manhattan each week.
The DOT will convert one of its two Austen-class ferries from diesel to LNG with the assistance of a $2.34 million federal grant that was awarded last summer, according to the Staten Island Advance. The DOT will pay for the remainder of the cost of the conversion, which will total approximately $3 million.
The city will reportedly acquire LNG for less than $1.50 per diesel gallon equivalent, representing a savings of 50% or more versus diesel.
Read more about the LNG conversion HERE.
