NORTH ANDOVER, Mass., Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Worden Marine has transformed a historic New England farm into a net-zero innovation center dedicated to developing the next generation of sustainable marine transportation.

The Worden Marine Innovation Center, located on the renovated historic KITCO family farm, is officially open. The opening event on September 9, 2026 brought together leaders from across the marine transportation ecosystem, including shipbuilders, engineers, suppliers, economic development officials, researchers, advisors, policymakers and commercial vessel operators.

Worden Marine, founded by solar industry/clean energy pioneer James Worden, is demonstrating that net-zero marine transportation is:

  • Practical and commercially viable
  • Zero-emission by design
  • Ready for the next generation of ferries, water taxis, tour boats, passenger and recreational vessels.

Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Marine Transportation

The technologies, processes and connections being developed at the center will help establish New England as a leader in next-generation marine transportation while creating new opportunities for regional manufacturing, engineering and clean energy innovation.

“Worden Marine isn’t just building a better boat,” said Worden, founder and CEO of Worden Marine. “We’re creating an entirely new ecosystem for sustainable marine transportation. By bringing together everyone in the ecosystem, we’re demonstrating that zero-emission marine transportation is being designed, built and tested here in New England today.”

Guests at the event had the opportunity to tour the net-zero facility, meet the Worden Marine team, its advisors and industry collaborators, including shipbuilding partner, Safe Harbor Front Street. Worden Marine has spent the past several years developing and testing its approach with a 20-foot prototype.

As part of its September 9 debut, the company gave invited guests a first look at its first 40-foot production vessel, the TruSolar40, representing the next stage in the development of solar-electric vessels for ferries, water taxis, tour boats and other commercial passenger and recreational boat applications. As governments, transit authorities and commercial operators seek practical ways to reduce emissions while lowering long-term operating costs, purpose-built solar-electric vessels offer a new approach to moving people and goods with little or no reliance on fossil fuels.

New Approach Supports the Delivery of Innovative Vessels

Unlike conventional electric vessels that adapt existing designs, every Worden Marine vessel is engineered from the keel up. Rather than relying on decades-old assumptions about boat construction, the company begins with a clean slate, evaluating every design decision—from hull geometry and lightweight, high-strength composite materials to solar integration, battery placement, propulsion and energy management—to maximize efficiency, safety, durability, and performance. The result is a purpose-built vessel optimized for solar-electric propulsion rather than a traditional boat retrofitted with new technology.

About Worden Marine

Founded in 2022 by clean energy entrepreneur James Worden, Worden Marine designs and develops purpose-built solar-electric vessels for commercial passenger and recreational applications. Building on decades of leadership in electric vehicle and solar energy technologies, the company works with shipbuilders, engineers, and technology partners to advance commercially viable, net-zero marine transportation solutions.


Media Contact:

Bobbie Carlton,
Carlton PR & Marketing
bobbie@carltonprmarketing.com
781-718-7619

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