VTO Project

Bringing Cleaner Propulsion to Alaska’s Working Fleet

The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA) is working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) to explore practical ways to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions in Alaska’s commercial fishing fleet.

ALFA was awarded $700,000 from DOE to convert two commercial fishing boats to hybrid power and one mariculture vessel to electric.

Through this work, ALFA is testing hybrid and electric propulsion technologies designed specifically for working fishing vessels. The goal is simple: find technologies that can reduce fuel consumption and emissions while still meeting the demanding needs of Alaska fishermen.

F/V Mirage: From Concept to Working Vessel

The F/V Mirage is an important milestone in bringing hybrid technology to Alaska’s commercial fishing fleet.

The Mirage was selected because its operating profile offered strong potential for fuel savings and because the lessons learned could be applied to other vessels in the fleet. Before beginning the conversion, ALFA documented the vessel’s energy use during normal fishing operations to establish a baseline for comparison.

In 2025, it was retrofitted in Sitka with a Transfluid diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, working with local marine experts and the hybrid-system supplier. The vessel was launched in February 2026 and then commissioned and sea-trialed.

On April 3, 2026 *the Mirage* was christened by Sen Lisa Murkowski.

The Mirage was is now providing real-world experience with hybrid propulsion in commercial fishing. ALFA is learning how the system performs under actual operating conditions, including how fishermen use power while traveling, fishing, and working aboard the vessel.

The Next Phase

The next phase includes work on the F/V Energizer, a Juneau-based gillnetter being outfitted with electric propulsion and will have a 27-kW diesel generator to recharge the batteries if needed. The third phase of the project will take place in Kodiak, where a mariculture skiff will be fitted with battery banks and an electric outboard.

Together, these projects allow ALFA to compare different technologies and develop practical pathways for reducing fuel use across a diverse working fleet.

View photos of F/V Energizer components here.

What We’re Learning

ALFA is documenting the experience of designing, installing, commissioning, and operating alternative propulsion systems aboard commercial fishing vessels. The lessons learned will be shared with fishermen, boat owners, engineers, communities, and policymakers to help determine where these technologies make sense and where they don't.

ALFA’s long-term goal is to help build a fishing fleet that uses less fuel, produces fewer emissions, and remains economically viable for the fishermen and coastal communities who depend on it.