In a significant regulatory milestone, a new 150-passenger hydrogen fuel cell-electric fast ferry platform designed by Incat Crowther in partnership with zero-emission vessel developer SWITCH Maritime (Switch) has secured a Design Basis Agreement (DBA) with the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
The SWITCH-150 platform is designed to align with the performance and operating specification that ferry operators have come to expect from diesel vessels, but the only vessel emissions are water vapour. Powered by an integrated hydrogen fuel cell-electric propulsion and hydrogen storage system, the vessel has the capability to perform high-frequency, high-intensity ferry operations like an existing diesel vessel. This means parallel service speeds, a daily bunkering schedule, and no need to increase dwell time or alter service to account for vessel charging.
Further, the vessel requires no investment in costly and complicated shoreside charging infrastructure and power grid upgrades. Needing only mobile hydrogen refuelling equipment, SWITCH-150 can be seamlessly integrated into an ongoing ferry operation, rather than requiring scheduling changes or a system-wide reorientation, as would be required for a comparably specified battery-electric vessel.
SWITCH-150 draws directly from the technical, regulatory and operating framework set by Switch’s first vessel, Sea Change. Also designed by Incat Crowther, Sea Changeis the first hydrogen fuel cell-electric ferry in the United States and began passenger service in July 2024. It received its DBA from the USCG in 2020 and its Certificate of Inspection (COI) in 2024, which cleared the vessel for commercial operation, and ensured Sea Changewas the first hydrogen fuel cell-electric vessel to complete the USCG’s Alternative Design Basis Approval Process.
The USCG Subchapter T regulation, the set of rules and standards that governs the design, construction and operation of passenger vessels with a capacity of less than 150 passengers, does not currently include guidance or regulation written specifically for hydrogen fuel cell-electric propulsion and hydrogen storage. To keep the SWITCH-150 design within USCG standards, Switch, Incat Crowther and the vessel project team worked directly with the USCG to build a regulatory framework that demonstrates sufficient equivalency in safety and risk mitigation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved the Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships Using Hydrogen as Fuel in May 2026. These guidelines served as an important foundation for the DBA process, adding more structure while reducing time to approval.
Francisco Planells, Director of the Newbuild Program, Switch Maritime said: “Signing the DBA with the Coast Guard is a critical milestone in advancing the development of the SWITCH-150. With the DBA in hand, Switch, our project team, and the USCG have a clear and defined framework that will inform vessel construction, commissioning, and ultimately operation. We are now one step closer to deploying commercial-scale hydrogen-fuelled vessels that will help operators to future proof and decarbonize their fleets without operational compromise.”
Dan Mace, Technical Manager, Incat Crowther said: “Working closely with Switch, the US Coast Guard and the wider project team made for a smooth, collaborative path to this regulatory milestone. The DBA is validation of the smart engineering and safety-focused approach built into the vessel design, giving operators confidence that hydrogen fuel cell-electric propulsion can be delivered on a fast ferry of this size. With the DBA now in place, our focus moves to taking the design through detailed development and into a complete digital shipbuilding package ready for construction.”
The 28-metre ferry is designed to carry 150 passengers at a cruising speed of 25 knots. With 720 kilograms of stored, compressed hydrogen capacity, it will be able to run a range of routes across New York ferry networks with a full day of range. The spacious main deck will feature comfortable seating for 150 passengers, ample luggage storage, a kiosk, three bathrooms including a wheelchair accessible bathroom, and large windows to allow passengers to enjoy the iconic views on New York’s waterways.
The first SWITCH-150 is intended to operate in New York City, based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The New York application would use clean hydrogen, delivering the lowest possible “well-to-wake” emissions. While this would be the first deployment, the SWITCH-150’s propulsion system provides the performance, range and flexibility to serve a range of high-frequency commuter routes throughout the United States.
The development of New York’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric ferry, which is supported by a $US2 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), builds on the successful partnership between Incat Crowther and Switch.