Derecktor Delivers First Of Two Ferries To New York City

The Robert E. Derecktor of Rhode Island shipyard recently delivered the Alice Austen (photo), first of two passenger ferries ordered by the City of New York's Department of Transportation, Bureau of Ferry & General Aviation Operations.

The $3.8-million, double-ended vessel has been designed and constructed for year-round operation in New York Harbor. Her primary use will be for off-peak passenger travel between Manhattan and Staten Island.

The vessel will also be put to use during the forthcoming July 4 weekend Statue of Liberty celebration.

The ferry is named for Alice Austen, a famous Staten Island photographer. The Alice Austen Society, based in New York City, held a commissioning ceremony aboard the vessel shortly after her delivery to New York Department of Transportation officials.

The 207-foot all-steel vessel has a beam of 40 feet, depth to sun deck of 33 feet, and draft of 8 feet. She will accommodate a maximum passenger load of 1,280 people on two decks, with fixed fiberglass bucket seats for 930 passengers.

The propulsion/steering system supplied by Voith-Schneider is driven via hydraulic clutch and flexible coupling by a Caterpillar 3516 TA diesel engine rated 1,410 bhp at 1,600 rpm. The Voith-Schneider system provides extremely accurate maneuvering. The vessel is capable of being operated with an unmanned engine room due to the incorporation of a machinery monitoring system supplied by Engine Efficiency Associates.

Painted with International coatings in the New York DoT orange and grey color scheme, the ferry can load passengers on either deck. As the vessel is a double-ender, she does not have the conventional bow and stern configuration. Instead, she has been designated as having a "Manhattan End" and a "Staten Island End." Pilothouses located at each end of the top deck provide maximum visibility, and house the Voith-Schneider propulsion and steering controls, the engine monitoring system, Racal- Decca RM1070 radars, and a Raytheon Ray 78 VHF radiotelephone.

A small concession stand is located on the upper deck. Interior finishes have been designed to be as vandal-proof and graffitti-resistant as possible.

The Derecktor yard expects to deliver the second ferry in late June, also in time for the Fourth of July festival.

For further information on the Derecktor shipyard's facilities and capabilites, Circle 51 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 11, Jun 1986

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.