Charting a new course
Atlantic Canada’s ferries leading charge toward zero emissions
The Halifax-dartmouth ferry service is among the oldest in North America, running since 1752.
While the types of vessels and the timetables have changed, passenger ferries continue making regular journeys across the harbour, as they have for hundreds of years. Looking out from the deck at the bustling coastline these days — from the tugboats and cruise ships to the waterfront restaurants — you can see the way the ocean continues to shape life here.
But it’s not just a scenic trip; these passenger ferries form a vital point of connection that links parts of our growing city together. And as we manage the changes facing our city, our ocean and our climate, the way we get around needs to adapt, too.
The recent announcement of the Halifax-mill Cove ferry service, which will add five high-speed electric ferries linking Bedford and Halifax, marks a significant step in imagining what the future of ferry travel could look like. But this milestone project could be the start of something even bigger: the electrification of passenger ferries throughout Atlantic Canada and the country.
The electrification of harbour craft and near-shore vessels such as ferries is a pivotal aspect of combating climate change and preserving our oceans. Federal data shows Canadian passenger vessels produce almost 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, the equivalent of 120,000 cars on the road.
Operating on simple, repeating missions, ferries are the clear and best candidate for advancing battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell applications. Right now, most of these vessels are powered by fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change, reduce air quality and produce noise and pollutants that affect marine life.
The question is: How do we chart a course to our destination?
To achieve zero-emission 2050 targets, governments must support the adoption of new zero-emission technologies. Ottawa has the power to take bold steps — for example, by mandating that all passenger ferries in operation across Canada be zeroemission vessels by 2035.
Leveraging the power of public procurement to decarbonize government-owned and -funded ferry fleets, such as the inter-provincial ferries that connect communities in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec, will remove barriers and lower costs as technologies move along the adoption curve.
Of course, electric vessels are only as clean as the electricity they use and, right now, Nova Scotia still has a long way to go to meet its 2030 emissions targets. But scaling the supply and demand for renewable energy is not a chicken-and-egg nd dilemma. Both must happen at the same time for Canada to have the momentum needed to achieve its climate targets.
It is critically important that investments in marine electrification — including battery-powered cargo-handling equipment at ports and shore power connection for ocean-going vessels — happen in tandem with investment in cleaning up Nova Scotia’s electricity grid with renewable alternatives to coal and natural gas.
This transition should be financed through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, direct grant funding and continued support for new renewable energy generation and the transmission and charging infrastructure needed to achieve a net-zero grid by 2035. This will not only accelerate economic opportunities but also send a powerful message to the rest of the world about our commitment to environmental stewardship.
By harnessing the power of electricity, Nova Scotia can significantly minimize harmful carbon emissions and air pollutants, protect marine biodiversity and create a healthier environment for both aquatic life and coastal communities for generations to come.
Brent Dancey is director of marine climate action at Oceans North, an environmental non-governmental organization in Halifax.