The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) has recognized the Washington State Ferries’ (WSF) Shore‑to‑Vessel Charging System (SVCS) project with an Engineering Excellence Award, the Best in State Gold Award in the “Future Value to the Engineering Profession and Enhanced Public Awareness/Enthusiasm for the Role of Engineering” category. The award is a testament to the innovation of the project team that collaborated to design the new charging system.
The SVCS project comprises the delivery of a charging interface designed to power WSF’s coming hybrid-electric fleet at five of the agency’s terminals. The new charging interface is the first major infrastructure component of WSF’s System Electrification Program (SEP), the electrification and modernization of the largest ferry system in the United States. Hill International serves as program management lead for the SEP’s general engineering consultant (GEC) team. In this role, Hill provides the structure, coordination, and oversight necessary to advance this complex, comprehensive ferry electrification program.
A Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Effort
For the SVCS project, Hill’s program management has supported planning, scheduling, environmental considerations, and alignment with overall program objectives. Hill’s leadership has also helped maintain coordination across the project’s multidisciplinary team.
The Hill-led GEC includes David Evans and Associates (DEA), who, with their engineering partners, leveraged a system integration approach, three-dimensional motion analysis, stringent functional requirements, and a variety of other engineering solutions to achieve a design in line with WSF’s expectations and overcome the challenges associated with rapidly charging multiple classes of hybrid-electric vessels in the dramatic tidal shifts of the Puget Sound.
In addition to DEA and their engineering partners, the project team includes WSF staff, who have made certain that the new charging system aligns with operational realities and Washington State’s long-term vision.
The Groundwork for Full System Electrification
With their innovative, award-winning design solution, the SVCS project team has established the foundational charging capability that will support WSF’s future hybrid‑electric fleet and created a standardized framework for electrifying additional terminals during later program phases. These improvements will ultimately contribute to a reduction in carbon and other pollutants emitted by ferry operations, supporting Washington State’s environmental goals, improving health for residents, and combating climate change.
“Delivering complex infrastructure to solve the world’s biggest problems requires visionary leadership, innovative engineering, and program management excellence,” says GISI Consulting Group CEO Derek Amidon. “By exemplifying that combination here, the SVCS project team has charted a course for continued SEP success. Congratulations to WSF, the Washington Department of Transportation, DEA and their design team, and Hill on this well-deserved recognition.”
Hill International provides program, project, and construction management and advisory services for clients in a range of sectors undertaking major construction projects across the world. Hill is the 3rd largest project and construction management firm in the U.S., as featured in Building Design + Construction magazine. Hill is also ranked as the 8th largest overall U.S. construction management firm by Engineering News-Record. The team has participated in more than 90,000 project assignments with a total construction value of over $1 trillion, and operates in more than 100 offices across 42 countries.