Americas News
Coal-Powered U.S. Ferry Gets Upgrade to Reduce Pollution
The coal-powered ferry SS Badger, which operates on Lake Michigan in the U.S., will be back in operation on May 16 with new combustion controls that promise to reduce its fuel use and ash production, local newspaper Ludington Daily News reports.
The ship's owner, Lake Michigan Car Ferry (LMC), spent $1 million on the upgrade, which involves the use of a digital system to adjust the mix of air to burn the coal more efficiently.
The system should cut ash output by 10 to 15 percent, according to LMC President and CEO Bob Manglitz.
The 410-foot vessel is operating under the terms of an agreement between the owner and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) that requires LMC to reduce ash discharge this year and end it before the start of the 2015 season.
The company's vice president of navigation, Chuck Leonard, said the work done so far represents more than half of what will be needed to eliminate ash discharge altogether.
"We've bitten off the bigger piece this year," he said.
LMC has been involved in a long dispute with federal agencies over pollution from the ferry.
