San Francisco based Hornblower Cruises & Events has signed off on a multi-million dollar project with Statue Cruises for Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, CT to complete the world’s first Hybrid Ferry using Hydrogen fuel by April 2011. Hornblower Cruises & Events is the concessioner authorized by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to serve the public at 
the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.
The New York Hornblower Hybrid follows the 2008 launch of the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid, the United States’ first hybrid ferry. San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events created both vessels. The new 1,400-horsepower Hornblower Hybrid will run on a combination of energy generated by clean Tier 2 diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines. Power will come from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. In addition, solar panels and wind turbines will help power the vessel. Efficient Tier 2 diesel engines kick in to cover additional energy needs.
Terry MacRae, CEO of Statue Cruises and Hornblower Cruises & Events said “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. By combining hydrogen, solar and wind power, Hornblower will minimize its environmental impact as we transport guests to popular national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our goal is to reduce emissions to the greatest extent possible, with a goal in the future to eliminate them entirely during a cruising day. “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. The technology on the Hornblower Hybrid is now scalable for other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tugs. Some may say we are at the turning point in modernizing marine technology and Hornblower plans to be leading the way.”