FERRIES 2023: Renewable diesel as a ferry decarbonization tool

Carrie Song

At FERRIES conferences, we talk a lot about various fuel options for ferry operations. One fuel for ferries that we haven’t explored in detail—at least not lately—is renewable diesel.

At FERRIES 2023, taking place November 14-15 in Jersey City, N.J., just across the harbor from New York City, Neste U.S. Vice President of Renewable Road Transportation Carrie Song will discuss how renewable diesel (RD) is being used as a decarbonization tool in the ferry industry and how its customer, Hornblower, took a major step by making the switch to RD to continue meeting its sustainability goals and reduce its fuel consumption for the long-term benefit of the local environment. In addition to doing the right thing for the planet and operating sustainably, it was important for Hornblower that there wasn’t a big cloud of smoke visible when the ferry pulled away from the dock—and renewable diesel helped them provide that.

As the sole concessionaire for passenger service city cruises between San Francisco, Calif., and Alcatraz Island for decades, Hornblower is in service year-round. Because renewable diesel is a drop-in replacement, Hornblower’s array of hybrid fleets did not require additional investment or modifications to the engine. Attendees can learn more about this at next month’s event.

Neste is a leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, and renewable feedstock solutions for various polymers and chemicals industry uses. The company is also developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. Its range of renewable products help cities, businesses and consumers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, achieve circular economies and meet their climate goals. Neste is the first energy company to sign the Climate Pledge and is often recognized as one of the most sustainable companies in the world. It is committed to reaching carbon neutral production by 2035 and supporting our customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. 

Meet Carrie

Carrie Song spearheads growth and sales in existing and new markets across the North, Central and South Americas. She is passionate about renewable fuels and other new technologies and innovations that can help the transport industry cut carbon emissions. Song has a track record of success in driving business growth for both Fortune 500 companies and startups in a variety of industries, including global commodity trade, IT, capital goods, retail consulting, energy and oil and gas.

Prior to her current role at Neste, she served as sales director – Americas for BP, where she oversaw business development performance, expanded business footprints and developed high performing teams across North, Central and Latin American regions. Prior to that, Song was the sales & marketing director of global oil and gas power solutions at Cummins. She holds a BA in economics and public administration from University of International Business and Economics in China, a Master in Management degree from London School of Economics, and a Master of Science in marketing research from Texas A&M University.

FERRIES 2023: The Conference

Set to take place at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, November 14-15 in Jersey City, N.J., the 36th annual Marine Log FERRIES conference will have as its theme “Designing today’s ferries for future operations.”

The venue, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking ferry traffic on the Hudson River, is a quick ferry ride from New York City.

Delivering two days of in-person discussions, dynamic Q&A sessions, and multiple networking opportunities, FERRIES 2023 will be an opportunity for the North American ferry industry to come together to share experiences, network, look for new suppliers and reconnect with existing suppliers.

The art of designing or upgrading ferries takes a lot into consideration outside of the vessel’s blueprints. Making a greener ferry is a design choice and so is enhancing the passenger experience.

FERRIES 2023 will focus on how today’s ferries—those under construction, coming online soon, or already in operation—can be prepared for the changing scope of future operations.

As ever, a focus of the program will be on lessons learned from hard-earned, real-life experience. In addition, the program will explore new ways to meet economic and environmental targets through advances in technology, innovative approaches to operating a vessel, and the latest trends in ferry design.

In addition to thought leaders presenting on topics relevant to the ferry industry, three panels have been incorporated in this year’s program focused on ferry operator challenges and successes, battery options for ferries, and an interesting overview and look at the new Governors Island ferry project.

Other topics will explore leveraging shoreside terminals and infrastructure to increase profits; low-carbon alternatives, such as electric, hydrogen and hybrid options; what’s trending in ferry designs being delivered today; and more.

The Tour

Following the end of conference sessions, on November 15, an industry tour will be provided to a limited number of attendees. This year’s tour will have attendees board a NYC Ferry vessel and tour the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where it will learn more about NYC Ferry’s Homeport Pier C, its deisgn and construction.

Guests will also learn the history of the area and discover plans for Homepoort II in Red Hook. Hornblower will round out the conversation with an inside look at NYC Ferry’s marine operations and more.

The complete agenda can be found here.

For inquiries regarding sponsorships or ways you can connect with FERRIES 2023 attendees, contact David Harkey at dharkey@sbpub.com.

The Sponsors—So Far

The following organizations are signed up to sponsor FERRIES 2023, although more will be announced soon:

Anchor (Platinum)

VPS (Platinum)

Bayonne Dry Dock (Cocktail Reception)

Siemens Energy (Pre-Conference Cocktail Party)

W&O (Luncheon)

PPG (Registration)

Coastal Marine Equipment (Laynards)

ABB (Gold)

Glosten (Gold)

All American Marine (Silver)

BMT (Silver)

Christie & Grey (Silver)

EMS Marcon (Silver)

GL Power (Silver)

Neste US (Silver)

Hamilton Jet (Silver)

Karl Senner (Silver)

Kongsberg (Silver)

Zinus Power (Silver)

MTU – A Rolls-Royce Solution (Silver)

NCP Coatings (Silver)

RIX (Silver)

Schottel / elkon (Silver)

J&A Enterprises / Soundown (Silver)

United Safety & Survivability Corporation / Fireboy-Xintex (Silver)

Vulkan (Silver)

Marine Jet Power (Silver)

BAE Systems (Bronze)

CANAL (Bronze)

Conrad Shipyard (Bronze)

Crowley (Bronze)

C-Job Naval Architects (Bronze)

Cummins (Bronze)

Elliott Bay Design Group (Bronze)

EV Maritime (Bronze)

Wärtsilä (Bronze)

LeBlanc & Associates LLC (Bronze)

MOPS (Bronze)

PROP (Bronze)

Rigidized Metals (Bronze)

SSI (Bronze)

The Shearer Group (Bronze)

Thrive Payments (Bronze)

World Wide Metric (Bronze)

360 Coverage Pros (Bronze)

ZF Group (Bronze)

Allied Marine Crane (Bronze)

Artemis Technologies (Bronze)

CMP Global (Bronze)