As part of their Marine Master Plan, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry<\/a>, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), is planning to phase out their aging three vessel ferry<\/a> fleet and phase in four smaller ferry vessels, each with a capacity for 75 vehicles and 329 passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The new, smaller vessels are expected to save the DRBA about $1.2 million in operating costs due to decreased fuel consumption and decreased maintenance and labor costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plans for the new fleet<\/a> were unveiled at a public meeting on February 23, 2023. Since 2021, DRBA has been working on the Marine Master Plan in partnership with Elliott Bay Design Group and KPFF Consulting Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group considered four fleet configurations before settling on their choice for a four vessel mid-size fleet. Other options that were considered were to optimize the existing fleet of three vessels, a mid-size fleet of three 75-car ferries or a smaller vessel fleet of five 55-car 240-passenger ferries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project is estimated to cost a total of $320 million, $304 million for the new ferry vessels and $16 million in estimated costs for terminal improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designs for the new vessels are estimated to be completed in Q1 2024 with construction starting in Q4 2024 and lasting two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preliminary designs for the new vessels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n