By Kevin McCauley
Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division is looking for a PR firm to build support for its plan to convert six vessels to Liquefied Natural Gas power by 2015.
The state sees the move as an opportunity to cut fuel costs and create a positive impact on the environment.
Fuel is the fastest growing operating expense of the fleet, accounting for 30 percent of its overall budget or $67.3M. The DOT estimates a 40 to 50 percent fuel savings with the shift from diesel to LNG.
Washington State Ferries says it has received conceptual approval from the U.S. Coast Guard to retrofit the propulsion system with new engines on the six Issaquah Class ferries and the new Olympic Class ferries to use LNG as a source of fuel.
The fuel would be trucked in from British Columbia or someplace else in the Pacific Northwest.
According to WSF’s RFQ, the PR task revolves around pitching the cost/environmental benefits of the switch plus dealing with safety/security issues that may be held by the public.
Marta Coursey ([email protected]) is the contact person on the RFQ. Deadline to respond is Jan. 3. |