SAN FRANCISCO | November 17, 2025 – San Francisco Bay Ferry celebrated the commissioning of MV Zalophus, the agency’s newest high-speed passenger ferry and the 19th vessel in the SF Bay Ferry fleet.
MV Zalophus follows MV Karl, which entered service in spring 2025. The vessels are the nation’s cleanest high-speed, high-capacity passenger ferries and are powered by four U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 engines equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF).
“Adding MV Zalophus to the San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet means providing even more fast, reliable, clean transit for the Bay Area,” said SF Bay Ferry Board Chair Jim Wunderman. “SF Bay Ferry is deeply committed to the Bay Area’s public health and air quality, and we’re very proud of our partnerships with agencies like the California Air Resources Board in meeting emissions standards for our region.”
As the fourth vessel in the Dorado class and the last diesel vessel to be commissioned into service, MV Zalophus marks an important transition into the next phase for SF Bay Ferry.
The agency is currently undergoing a transition to zero-emission technology for new shortrun and existing transbay routes. The effort includes terminal electrification and the construction of the nation’s first high-speed, battery-electric passenger ferries. The first five vessels are currently under construction and expected to enter service in early 2027.
Photos and videos of MV Zalophus are available for media use.
MV Zalophus’s name was nominated by 2nd grader Reed Marvin, who attends Marilyn Avenue STEAM Academy in Livermore. He chose the name because it is the scientific name of the California sea lion, famous in the Bay. The name was voted on by the public and approved by SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors.
The vessel was built by Mavrik Marine in La Conner, Wash., and is the fourth vessel in its class, preceded by MV Karl, MV Dorado and MV Delphinus. MV Zalophus was designed by One2Three Naval Architects and construction management services were provided by Aurora Marine Design.
Like its predecessor, MV Zalophus has a seating capacity of 320, a fully enclosed upper deck area, bike storage and an expansive bar layout. The vessel has a top speed of 36 knots when all four engines are in operation.
MV Zalophus has begun service on the Vallejo route and is compatible with all SF Bay Ferry routes.
San Francisco Bay Ferry is a regional public transit agency tasked with developing, operating and expanding ferry service on the San Francisco Bay and with coordinating the water transit response to regional emergencies. The agency operates ferry routes connecting the cities of Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, South San Francisco and Vallejo.
MEDIA INQURIES: Alexis Matsui alexis.matsui@sfbayferry.com | 925-787-6367