Page 23: of Marine News Magazine (January 2022)

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Island to lower Manhattan, curtailed districts, which will soon be seeing currently served by NYC Ferries.

operations in the early days of the the imposition of congestion pricing. New York’s outgoing Mayor, Bill pandemic, with ridership down by The boats, Incat Crowther designed De Blasio, in a mid-December press 90-95% in Spring 2020. It returned high speed catamarans (with two se- conference, said, “This used to be a to its full 24/7 schedule in late Sum- ries, 150 passenger, and 350 passen- city with ferries all over the place. mer, 2021; though ridership is still be- ger), were built at Metal Shark (which Over the years it became very, very low pre-pandemic levels, it has been subsequently absorbed Horizon Ship- few. We’ve turned that around with on the upswing as employees return to building, also building boats in the NYC Ferry, reaching neighborhoods their of? ces. series) and several other yards. In New all over the ? ve boroughs, includ-

Passenger vessels continue to grow York, the Trust for Governors Island ing a lot of neighborhoods that were in importance as cities seek new trans- (once the site of a Coast Guard base transportation deserts. And we’re port options. NYC Ferries, with a and now the site of an emerging park helping people get out of their cars.” ? eet of smaller boats with names like and recreation area) is soliciting bids For now, ordering has ceased, but

Tooth Ferry and Ferry Godmother, (based on speci? cations from Elliott ferries will continue to be part of run by Hornblower for the city’s Bay Design Group) for a “hybrid” New York’s transportation scene. De

Economic Development Corp, has passenger/ vehicle ferry, with the po- Blasio added, “We’re helping people continued to connect outer parts of tential for fully electric operation in have a better way to get around. And the sprawling city with Manhattan’s the future. The island, which is home it’s exciting because NYC Ferry has downtown and midtown business to the well-known Harbor School, is only just begun…” www.marinelink.com MN 23|