San Francisco Bay Ferry on March 25 welcomed its newest high-speed ferry to its fleet, the m/v Delphinus, which is expected to serve commuters on its busiest route.
The ferry is set to operate on the Vallejo route, which carried more than 700,000 passengers over the past year, according to SF Bay Ferry. The Northern California agency reported 2.3 million passengers throughout its system last year.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) said the new ferry “exemplifies our commitment to meeting passenger needs, with design modifications based on valuable feedback.”
“As the Vallejo route continues to lead in ridership within our system, and with SF Bay Ferry’s remarkable recovery in ridership post-pandemic, m/v Delphinus symbolizes our dedication to serving our communities and advancing clean transportation solutions,” Wilson said.
The ferry, which is the second in the fleet’s Dorado class, was constructed by La Conner, Washington-based Mavrik Marine, while San Diego-based Aurora Marine Design provided construction management services on the project.
The Delphinus can accommodate 320 passengers and features a Tier 4 or Tier 4-equivalent engine. While it is expected to mainly serve the Vallejo route, the vessel can also run on all SF Bay Ferry routes because of its speed and size, the agency said.
Meanwhile, two yet-to-be named vessels in the Dorado class are under construction, the agency said.
“M/V Delphinus represents the latest SF Bay Ferry investment in providing a clean, safe, relaxing and affordable way to cross the bay,” SF Bay Ferry Board of Directors, member Pippin Dew said.
