en.Wedoany.com Reported - Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW) will build a new low-emission passenger ferry for Catalina Express, with the vessel expected to be launched and begin sea trials in the third quarter of 2027.

Catalina Express is part of the LA MER (Los Angeles Maritime Emission Reduction) project, a collaboration between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Port of Los Angeles. Supported by a $31 million grant from CARB, the project aims to accelerate the adoption of low-emission port vessels in California. Catalina Express received $15 million of this grant and matched it with an equal amount of its own funds.

The new ferry, designed by Incat Crowther, is 46 meters long and can carry 524 passengers. It will be equipped with four Tier 4 MTU 12V 4000M65L engines and a proposed CARB-certified diesel particulate filter to comply with CARB's commercial harbor craft regulations. Certification of the filter is pending approval from the EPA, USCG, and CARB.

Once operational, the new vessel will replace three existing Tier 2 and Tier 3 ships, streamlining Catalina Express's route operations. The company is the primary transportation link connecting the Southern California mainland to Catalina Island.

During construction, the project will create over 100 full-time jobs for craftsmen, engineers, production staff, and support personnel. It will also procure more than 200,000 pounds of local aluminum and 880 feet of piping materials, strengthening the regional supply chain. Based on standard MARAD maritime industry economic multiplier estimates, the total economic impact of the project on the region will exceed $54 million.