On a global scale, small passenger-only commuter and tourist ferries outnumber all other ferry types and have extremely long service lives, with 30, 40 and even 50-year lifespans not unusual. Routes tend to be very short, although in archipelagos a vessel may call at multiple stops on a circular route. Most are powered by medium or high-speed engines with a relatively low power output. In the last few years, these vessel types have proved to be an ideal application for a hybrid or full-electric propulsion system.
