A hydrogen-fueled passenger ferry is awaiting U.S. Coast Guard approval before going through test runs in the bay off Bellingham, Wash.

Bellingham-based All American Marine has installed two hydrogen-fueled motors on the 80-passenger Sea Change for Calif.-based Switch Maritime, which plans to use the ferry in San Francisco Bay.

All American Marine President Ron Wille is not aware of any other hydrogen-fueled ferries operating in the U.S., although he said some are working in Scandinavia and Asia.

Wille told NetZero Insider that he does not know how fast the Coast Guard will do its work but said the follow-up test will take three to four weeks after getting a federal green light.

The 73-foot-long Sea Change has 10 hydrogen storage tanks storing 246 kilograms of compressed hydrogen, which are used to generate electricity to be stored in batteries to propel the ferry. That provides enough power to run the Sea Change for 300 nautical miles at a speed of 16 knots. The vessel can reach a speed of 21 knots.

Switch Marine believes it can use denser forms of hydrogen, including liquids, to achieve higher speeds and longer ranges in the future.

Willie said All American Marine has received several inquiries for potential construction of more hydrogen-fueled vessels, but no new contracts have been nailed down so far. He did not know the total price of constructing the Sea Change, saying Switch Marine bought many of the parts and built the hull in California. “It is more expensive than a diesel-powered ferry,” he said.

All American Marine has already built two hybrid ferries that use diesel fuel and electric batteries.

One vessel is the Enhydra, with a 128-foot boat that carries up to 600 people on harbor tours of San Francisco. The other is a 70-foot, 150-passenger ferry operated by Kitsap Transit on the western shore of Washington’s Puget Sound. The ferry connects the city of Bremerton with a pair of towns across the many inlets in the area.