State plans for batteries aboard Tustumena replacement ferry

As the state ferry system ages, the Alaska Department of Transportation is turning to new technologies to update its fleet.

The department is implementing diesel-electric hybrid power on its upcoming Tustumena replacement vessel, which is slated to set sail in 2027. By then, the Tustumena will be 62 years old.

In addition to its diesel engines, the new ferry will feature a “room for housing batteries” that could cut fuel consumption by 1%, according to a Juneau KTOO radio report.

At an Oct. 14 meeting, Brian Jennings, a projects staffer with the department, told the Alaska Marine Highway Opera...