Photo Courtesy of NYCEDC
The first Citywide Ferry vessel superstructure was unveiled at the Horizon Shipyard in Alabama.
By Forum Staff
Officials from the City Economic Development Corporation and Hornblower, the operator of the Citywide Ferry, recently inspected the first completed ferry vessel superstructure during a tour of the Horizon Shipyard facility in Alabama.
According to EDC, completion of the superstructure marks “a significant milestone” in what will become the Big Apple’s first citywide ferry service and one of the largest commuter ferry operations in the country.
Phase 1 of Citywide Ferry remains on schedule to launch in summer 2017, EDC confirmed last week.
Specs and features for Citywide Ferry vessels include:
- Capacity for 150 passengers along with space for bikes, strollers and wheelchairs.
- Americans with Disabilities Act Local Law 68/2005 accessibility and compliance.
- Boats are 85 feet long; more passenger space than most traditional ferries.
- Ferries are primarily built out of aluminum, which is safe, light-weight and increases fuel efficiency, EDC noted. The fleet of 19 vessels will be built with the equivalent of over 77 million cans of aluminum.
- Use of ultra-efficient engines to reduce emissions.
- Innovative hull design to limit wake and maximize fuel efficiency.
- Wi-Fi available throughout the vessel.
- Heated decks that increase each vessel’s resiliency and durability, especially during the cold, snowy winter months.
Nineteen total Citywide Ferry vessels will be built at Horizon and Metal Shark (La.) shipyards. Currently, eight boats are under construction at Horizon, and four boats are under construction at Metal Shark.
According to EDC, the vessels will be equipped with the latest in 21st-Century maritime technology and best design practices. Approximately 200 full-time builders between both shipyards are working on the project. Construction of the barges has been underway for several months on Staten Island. Later this year, EDC will begin installation of new ferry landings for the 2017 routes.
With 19 vessels operating at 21 landings across the five boroughs, Citywide Ferry will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year across six routes. The existing East River Ferry will be fully integrated into Citywide Ferry, which will reduce the cost of that service to $2.75 from $4 – the same cost of a subway ride.
Citywide Ferry Service Routes
- Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes are scheduled to launch in 2017.
- Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.
- Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech), Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street.
- South Brooklyn route will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street, with an optional link to Governors Island (launch date TBD).
- Soundview and Lower East Side routes to launch in 2018.
- Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island are in the planning stages for future expansion.
- Combined routes will cover over 60 miles of waterway.
- More than 500,000 New Yorkers live within a half-mile of one of the 21 Citywide Ferry landings, including more than 15,000 families living in City Housing Authority developments
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