New Cape May-Lewes Ferry boat goes out to bid

The newest boat for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Elliott Bay Design Group recently announced its design for a 275-foot hybrid ferry for the Delaware River and Bay Authority is out for bid. According to the announcement, the vessel is designed for year-round service. It features a battery-electric hybrid propulsion system and will accommodate 75 vehicles and up to 400 passengers. The new boat is expected to provide improved efficiency and sustainability.

Proposals are due by Tuesday, June 17. The goal is to have the ferry ready to join the fleet in summer 2027. It will replace the MV Cape Henlopen, which is more than 40 years old.

The cost of the new boat is estimated to be about $74 million.

“The plan remains the same to replace the current fleet; however, given the cost of each vessel, the process won’t happen overnight,” said DRBA spokesman James E. Salmon. “The timeline will likely be in excess of 10 years. The first vessel to be replaced will be the Cape Henlopen, which still operates with the old Fairbanks Morse diesel engines.”

In October 2024, then-Sen. Tom Carper and then-Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the construction gf the new ferry.

The new diesel-hybrid ferry will operate with lower emissions compared to a diesel ferry, and it will allow zero-emission operations while near port and while docked. The new engines are expected to reduce fuel consumption by 35%. 

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is open year-round and has carried more than 50 million passengers since its inception July 1, 1964.