Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Eco-Boating

Locations in this article:  London, England Pittsburgh, PA

We’ve got environmentally conscious hotels and hybrid cars, so why not eco-friendly boats?

Here’s what’s happening on the waters these days….

There’s a new ferry setting sail along the New York Harbor that was actually built to be green.

Operated by Statue Cruise, the ferry is powered by a combination of hydrogen, solar and wind energy.

Even the building materials include parts that came from a former casino, and LEED-certified carpeting.

A company called RiverQuest has an eco-friendly hybrid boat that sails along Pittsburgh’s three rivers on educational cruises, with public outings taking place every Saturday through October.

There are a handful of solar-powered boats out there, but getting access to them isn’t always easy.

Check out the Solarshuttle in London, which sails across the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, between the Princess Diana memorial fountain and the Boat House.

Of course, eco-boating is still in the early stages, but the technology is here, so it’s just a matter of time before it becomes a viable option for travelers.

Learn more about green travel in our Eco-Travel section.

Get out on the water with our Cruise Travel section.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.