The world’s first commercial ferry that is powered by hydrogen fuel, is operating on a trial basis in San Francisco Bay. It is a step along the path for phasing out the current diesel-powered ferries and replacing them with clean energy hydrogen. The San Francisco Bay Ferry company offers free rides on this ship for the six month demonstration period. The goal is to showcase fuel cell technology as a viable alternative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The vessel emits no pollution - only water vapour, a portion of which is re-mineralized and used in the ship’s water fountain. This makes it the only vessel in the world with drinkable emissions. The 75 passenger ship is fitted with hydrogen-powered fuel cells which produce the electricity to power the electric motors. It can sail distances of up to 550 kilometres without refuelling, and reaches speeds of up to 20 knots. This pilot program is intended to provide information on the way that this new technology functions in real world use. “The implications for this are huge,” explained the chairman of the company. “If we can operate this successfully it gives us the green light to add more of these vessels to our fleet, and to be an example for other fleets in the United States and around the world.”