Updated August 31, 2026
We know a lot of you have been following the progress of our new hybrid-electric car ferry, Battery Steele, and wondering when you will finally get to ride her. Here is an update on where the project stands, what the shipyard has been working through, and what the first several months of service will look like when the vessel gets to Portland.
The short version
Battery Steele completed a very promising builder’s sea trial earlier this year. Two technical issues came up after that trial, and both have delayed her arrival. The good news is that solutions have been identified for both, and the work is underway. We are currently expecting the vessel to arrive sometime in October and enter service by Q1 2027.
Issue one: gross tonnage
This one sounds like it should be about weight, but it isn’t. Gross tonnage is a measurement of a vessel’s internal volume. One gross ton equals 100 cubic feet of space. To make it more confusing, certain spaces on a ship, like engine rooms and battery compartments, are excluded from the calculation. Even the size of the openings where cables and piping pass through an interior wall can change the number.
Battery Steele was designed to come in under 100 gross tons. That threshold matters because it determines crewing and licensing requirements. During an inspection, it was determined that some of those wall openings might not qualify for the exemptions the design had assumed.
The shipyard and our engineering team have worked out a fix. The yard is modifying the openings in the bulkheads where piping and wiring pass through so the vessel stays within specification and keeps its exemptions. That work is well underway and should be finished within the next two to three weeks.
Issue two: ballast
The second issue is about actual weight. The vessel sits higher in the water than intended. To correct that, weight needs to be added low in the hull so she rides at the right depth when she is empty of passengers, vehicles, and freight.
Our engineering team has completed a new stability test and is finalizing exactly how much weight to add. The solution involves designing and fabricating racks deep inside the vessel, down in the bilge, and filling them with ballast material, typically lead or cement. This work could take four to six weeks.
There are also a handful of smaller punch list items that staff, the engineering team, and the yard are working through. These are normal for a new vessel and minor compared to the two items above.
What happens after she arrives
Getting the boat to Portland is not the same as putting her into service. Once Battery Steele arrives, we expect roughly two months of crew training and familiarization. That includes:
- Ship handling
- Emergency procedures
- General vessel operation
- Training on the new hybrid-electric charger interface
At the end of that period, the Coast Guard will conduct a final examination. If the vessel passes, she will be issued her full Certificate of Inspection, which is what allows her to carry passengers. This process is expected to be completely by Q1 2027.
The Machigonne is not going anywhere yet
The Machigonne is expected to stay on site for at least six months after Battery Steele enters service. That gives us time to evaluate how the new vessel performs and confirm she is meeting our operational and performance standards before we make any long-term decisions. If something needs attention, we will have a proven boat available.
What will feel different for passengers
The biggest changes you will notice are about comfort:
- Quieter. The hybrid-electric propulsion system produces significantly less noise than a conventional diesel plant.
- Less vibration. The ride should feel smoother, particularly for anyone who has spent years sitting above the engines.
- More space. The vessel is roomier than our existing car ferry.
What should feel the same
We do not expect major changes to how loading and unloading work. That includes the boarding process for passengers, the residential boarding process, and how vehicles and freight are handled. Our plan is to keep these procedures familiar.
That said, we will be evaluating all of it during the training period. If we find something that needs to change to make loading safer or more efficient, we will tell you well before it happens.
Questions
We will keep posting updates as the schedule firms up. If you have questions about the vessel or the transition, come to a board meeting, send us a note, or grab one of us on the pier.