Image: Elliott Bay Design Group
When we final reported on the plan for a brand new ferry to function between New York City’s Lower Manhattan and Governors Island, issues had reached the stage the place an RFP for the vessel was out. Now it’s being constructed at Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, La., New York City Mayor Eric Adams introduced yesterday,
Designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, the 190-foot passenger/automobile ferry, which is being constructed for the Trust for Governors Island, will probably be New York City’s first public hybrid-electric ferry. It will probably be geared up with a hybrid propulsion system that may scale back air air pollution by permitting it to toggle between zero-emission battery-only energy and battery-assisted hybrid with diesel backup. The battery-assist mode will permit the brand new ferry to scale back carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 600 tons yearly. Future plans for speedy vessel charging set up will allow the ferry to function with zero-emission battery-only propulsion, at which level emissions will drop to almost zero.
Ahead of the ferry’s launch, Mayor Adams and the Trust launched a citywide competitors to call the brand new vessel. All New Yorkers are invited to take part by suggesting names on the Governors Island website up till May 25, 2023, with the ultimate identify anticipated to be introduced in summer time of 2023. The new ferry will start transporting passengers to Governors Island in summer time of 2024.
“Visiting Governors Island is a great way to support cutting-edge climate solutions, and soon, visitors will be able to go one step further just by traveling there,” stated Mayor Adams. “As New Yorkers transition to greener forms of transportation, the city and our partners are leading the way with cleaner, more efficient ways to go just about anywhere. The next generation deserves a green city and a vibrant Governors Island, and this first-of-its-kind ferry will help us deliver both.”
The new Governors Island battery hybrid ferry can have a capability to serve as much as 1,200 passengers at a time. It has a cruising pace of 10 knots and options fashionable passenger facilities, together with a lower-level ADA-accessible lounge and restrooms on every degree.
It will exchange the diesel-powered Lt. Samuel S. Coursen, the Trust’s present automobile and passenger ferry, which was commissioned by the U.S. Army in 1956 and has been in steady use since.
“Ferries are a vital part of transportation infrastructure, lasting 40 to 60 years or more. At Elliott Bay Design Group we work closely with our clients and their teams to ensure the vessel is fit for purpose and engineered to match a long life,” stated John W. Waterhouse, principal in cost, Elliott Bay Design Group. “The best clients are those that truly collaborate, so the resulting vessel shows the best of designer and client. Working with the Trust for Governors Island has been a real pleasure. We believe the vessel will be a reliable component in delivering the Governors Island experience to visitors.”
“We are excited to build and deliver this ferry to the people of New York City,” stated Johnny Conrad, chairman and CEO, Conrad Shipyard. “Since Governors Island is accessible only by ferry, we are proud that the Trust for Governors Island has selected us to play such a vital role in its growth and progress. This ferry will be the first-ever hybrid vehicle and passenger ferry in New York Harbor. Conrad is proud to be at the forefront of alternate energy solutions in the marine industry.”
