|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on May 8, 2017 7:55:14 GMT -8
The awarding of the contract for the NYC Ferry had a major impact on the Billy Bey Ferry, New York Water Taxi and Circle Line Downtown. This article looks at how it affected the New York Water Taxi.
Tuscarora Marine Log No. 11
May 2017
New York Water Taxi
Brief History and Roster
New York Water Taxi (NYWT) began operations on September 25, 2002. The idea was to provide a harbor taxi service similar to that offered by New York City cabs. Vessels would operate on a route from West 44th Street (Pier 84) on the Hudson River to the East 34th Street Ferry Landing on the East River by way of Battery Park. There would be several landing in between these points. As the service grew various other routes where tried. The boats would also be painted a bright yellow.
The operating company was New York Trans Harbor LLC and it was based in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.
The original fleet consisted of six front loading boats with a capacity of about 75 passengers. Five larger vessels were added to the fleet between 2005 and 2008. These vessels could carry about 150 passengers. A twelfth boat known as the AMERICAN PRINCESS was acquired at some point. She was configured a standard single ended motor vessel and was used on the long run from Pier 11 (East River) to the Rockaways and and summer excursions to Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
NYWT acquired Circle Line Downtown in 2008 as well as the high speed catamaran ZEPHYR and the speedboat SHARK.
New York City awarded the contract for the expanded NYC Ferry Service to Hornblower Cruises in 2016 and the New York Water Taxi would be unable to complete with this new subsidized service. New York Cruise Lines which is the parent company of Circle Line Sightseeing Yachts (aka Circle Line 42nd Street) and World Yachts acquired all ten remaining water taxis plus the ZEPHYR and SHARK. They will continue to operate the most of the services under the Circle Line Downtown brand. All are now owned by NYCL Aquisition LLC.
Part 2 Incomplete List of Routes
NYWT ran many routes during its fourteen years as an independent company. I do not have a complete list and for some I only have approximate dates. The signature service was the aforementioned harbor taxi service. This route was truncated about 2010 to operate only between Pier 84 and Fulton Street, Brooklyn (DUMBO) with stops at Battery Park and South Street Seaport. The Hudson River Line ran from about 2007/8 to 2009 between Pier 11 on the East River and Haverstraw, New York with a stop at Yonkers. During the same period a Rockaway Ferry ran between Lower Manhattan and Beach 108th Street in Rockaway Park, Queens. This service was served by the AMERICAN PRINCESS. There was a ferry service between Paulus Hook, New Jersey and Pier 11 in 2006.
Ikea opened at store in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn in 2008 and NYWT has run a regular service there ever since.
The Circle Line acquisition in 2008 came with two routes. The Statue of Liberty Express between which was basically a one hour tour of the lower harbor. This route used the ZEPHYR during the summer months and one of the water taxis during the winter. Despite the name it did not land at Liberty Island but took you close enough to get pictures. The other route was the thirty minute SHARK speedboat ride.
Part 3 The Fleet
Mickey Murphy Class: These vessels are 53 feet long and the displacement is 33 gross tons. They have an enclosed lower deck and an open upper deck. MICKEY MURPHY, MICHEAL MANN and CURT BERGER were built in 2002. JOHN KEITH, ED ROGOWSKY (I) and SCHUYLER MEYER JR were built in 2003. ED ROGOWSKY (I) was sold to the Bayonne Golf Club about 2006. She was painted green and re-named HEAVENS GATE.
Sam Holmes Class: These vessels are 67feet long and displace 57 gross tons. They have an enclosed lower deck and an open upper deck. This class includes SAM HOLMES (2002), SEYMOUR B. DURST (2002), ED ROGOWSKY (II) (2006), MARIAN S. HEISKELL (2007) and GENE FLATOW (2008).
Zephyr Class: This class consists of a single vessel, ZEPHYR. She was built in 2003 for Circle Line Harbor Cruises and acquired by NYWT in 2008. She is 122 feet long and displaces 94 gross tons. Her normal assignment is the one hour Statue of Liberty Express operating from Pier 17. Currently, May 2017, that service is being handled by CIRCLE LINE XVII from the 42nd Street fleet.
SHARK Class: This vessel was built in 1998 as THE BEAST for Circle Line Sightseeing Yachts. She was transferred to Circle Line Harbor Cruises about 2005 and acquired by NYWT in 2008.
Larry, RedbirdR33
|
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on May 23, 2017 8:08:21 GMT -8
NYC Ferry Update - May 23, 2017
The NYC Ferry operates two routes; the East River Ferry and the Rockaway Ferry. The former requires three vessels for peak service while the latter needs two vessels. Due to ongoing maintenance issue the high speed catamaran PROVINCETOWN III has been charted form the Provinetown Ferry in Boston. She is currently in use on the Rockaway run.
Larry, RedbirdR33
|
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on Jun 1, 2017 4:49:25 GMT -8
Tuscarora Almanac – June 1, 2017 – The Book of First Runs
The South Brooklyn Ferry begins operation today. The service is run for the City of New York by the HNY Ferry Fleet under the banner of NYC Ferry. The new service operates between Pier 11 (Wall Street) on the East River and Bay Ridge Pier (foot of Bay Ridge Avenue) in Lower New York Bay. Landings are made at DUMBO Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1, Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6, Red Hook (Atlantic Basin), and Sunset Park (Pier 1 former Brooklyn Army Terminal.) First day service is provided by the LUNCH BOX and H201.
Larry, RedbirdR33
|
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on Jun 21, 2017 12:59:03 GMT -8
Tuscarora Marine Log No 13
South Brooklyn Ferry
The South Brooklyn Ferry began service on Thursday, June 1, 2017. It is the third route to start up under the NYC Ferry System.
The ferry runs between Pier 11 / Wall Street in Manhattan and the Bay Ridge Pier in Brooklyn. Stops are made in Brooklyn at
DUMBO / Brooklyn Bridge Park / Pier 1
Atlantic Avenue / Brooklyn Bridge Park / Pier 6
Red Hook / Atlantic Basin / Pier 11
Sunset Park / Brooklyn Army Terminal / Pier 4.
Service runs from daily from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Peak service runs every thirty minutes while off-peak service varies from 40-50 minutes. Three vessels are needed for peak service.
Service between Pier 11 and DUMBO is also provided by the 34th Street Ferry. Service between Pier 11 and Sunset Park is also provided by the Rockaway Ferry.
I rode the ferry on June 14, 2017 and noted the following.
Pier 11/ Wall Street is a chaotic place in the morning rush. There are six slips each with two landing positions and eleven routes. Due to wind and tide conditions as well as the size of different vessels it is not always possible to dock twelve boats at the same time so some have to wait in midstream until a slip opens up. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the boats of three of the four companies serving Pier 11 are painted in a white livery. The ferry terminal building (if we can call it that) house ticket offices, restrooms, a snack bar and a small waiting room. Unfortunately its location blocks the view of one side of the pier. The boat that you are waiting for could arrive and depart without you seeing it. There seems to be no public address system and no one coordinating operations. In earlier years there was a fellow there with a bull horn who did a good job of directing passengers to the right boats. There is cardboard signage on stands as well as at some of the slips.
The problem is that these signs get moved and with all the new routes it’s hard to say what boat will be where. The deckhands due their best to help but there main concern is with the operation of their individual boats. I was waiting for the 8:15 sailing and the boat was running several minutes late due to a power failure in Red Hook. The NYC Ferry agent felt no need to inform those of use waiting for the boats about the delay and was very abrupt to a woman who inquired about the delay. With all the money that they are putting into the new service they need to establish a position of ferrymaster and improve the signage.
I disembarked at two locations down in the harbor. The first of these was the Bay Ridge (69th Street) Pier. Officially this is the “American Veteran’s Memorial Pier” and is actually a city park. It must reach 600 feet into the bay and is a favorite place for fishing. The ferry slip is located at the outer end of the pier which means a very long walk to reach the mainland. This might be nice in good weather but not so good during a thunderstorm or high waves. Also who is going to plow the snow off the pier in the winter? Can the pier support city snowplows?
The next port of call was the Red Hook / Atlantic Basin landing. This is the Mogambo Bar of the Brooklyn waterfront. It seems that every drifter, idler and harbor veteran ties up here. The unofficial flagship of the fleet is the coastal tanker MARY A WHALEN She was built in 1938 and is undergoing restoration and the aforementioned lady at Pier 11 is one of her caretakers. Moored next to her is the COMMANDER. She was built in 1917 and ran for Rockaway Boat Lines until 1981. After that she ran cruises out Haverstraw, New York until a few years ago.
Also on hand is the DIPLOMAT she was built in 1930 as the STEVANA and during the 1950’s ran around Manhattan Island as CIRCLE LINE IX (I). Atlantic Basin is also home to Empire Cruises, a charter company. Their vessels RUSTY, LIBERTY BELLE and NAUTICAL EMPRESS tied up there.
If you’re a ship-spotter and can only ride one ferry route this is the one to take.
If you’re a railfan pay close attention after the boat leaves Sunset Park. You get a good close up view of the Cross Harbor Railway car float operation and NY&A diesels on the Bay Ridge Branch.
There was electronic signage at both of the pier where I went ashore. The information displays include the times of the next ferry as well as the times for the nearby MTA bus routes.
My next installment will cover the Rockaway Ferry.
Larry, RedbirdR33
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Dec 9, 2017 17:41:38 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbyknapp on Mar 18, 2018 0:04:20 GMT -8
Dear ferriesBC members... We wonder if you can help us. We are a facebook group that works to solve old photo mysteries. One of our members submitted a photo of his Grandmother, taken while she was visiting NYC for the 1939 World's Fair. Grandma and her cousin, are seen on the upper deck of a vessel in New York Harbor, with the vessel seemingly headed toward the East River, but aside from the parts of the vessel we can see, we have no other clues as to what kind of vessel she might've been on, or what company may have operated that vessel. We wonder if you have within your ranks, ppl who are so knowledgeable, that they might look at this photo and determine what type of vessel it may have been and perhaps even what company(ies) may have operated such vessels. We researched the Day Line steamers, as we found information linking their cruise with the World's Fair and the Whitestone Piers, but we have been unable to match the characteristics of our vessel, with any of the Day Line Steamers of that era. We wondered if there were other ships that serviced the Fair, besides the large steamers? Perhaps smaller vessels were available for sightseeing tours, at that time? (1939). Perhaps Grandma was on a small ferry to and from The Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island or Coney Island? If you are able to help us, we appreciate it! if you cannot help us, would you please refer us to another forum, organization or person, who might be able to? Thank you! Please find our subject photo, below... Sincerely, bobby knapp for 'The New York Photo Detectives', on facebook Page: www.facebook.com/groups/1780786712241755/?ref=group_header![]() All who enjoy solving photo mysteries are welcome to join! link |
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on Apr 22, 2018 6:34:41 GMT -8
Mr. Knapp:
I consulted several sources in an attempt to answer your query. Although many companies did operate excursion boats to the fair there seems to be very little printed information available.
My sources were:
“Hudson River Day Line” (2nd Printing, Fordham University Press / 1990) by Donald C. Ringwald
“The Boats We Rode” (Quadrant Press / 1974) by Franklin B. Roberts and John Gillespie
“Steamboats on the Hudson River” (Images of America Series / Arcadia Publishing / 2011) by William H. Ewen Jr.
“Around Manhattan Island” (Fordham University Press / 1997) by Brian J. Cudahy
The Day Line did indeed operate service to the 1939-40 World’s Fair. They re-activated the DEWITT CLINTON which hadn’t run for several years. Donald Ringwald states that all of the boats ran in this service at one time or another. This would have included HENDRICK HUDSON, ROBERT FULTON, DEWITT CLINTON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, PETER STUYVESANT and CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW.
The Hudson River Night Line re-activated the TROJAN and re-named her the NEW YORKER. She was placed in service on the Albany-New York night run and on the off days she ran from Battery Park in Manhattan to the fair. The name of this venture was the New York Harbor Steamship Corp. This service lasted only for the 1939 season.
Two men, Jeremiah T. Driscoll and John W. Nugent, who would later become partners in the Circle Line ran the SYLPH, (Official No. 229468) between Battery Park and the site of the fair in 1939 as a sightseeing cruise. This vessel did not land at the fair and the service may only have run for the 1939 season. The name of this venture was New York Waterways Yacht Cruises.
You may wish to contact the following for more information
Steamship Historical Society of America
2500 Post Road
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886.
Good luck with your researches.
Larry, RedbirdR33
|
|
|
|
Post by R30A on Sept 4, 2018 21:01:52 GMT -8
Not entirely sure where to post this, or if it is of interest to most people here, but according to an instagram post from its operator, Monday marked the last day of service for the Fire Island Ferries vessel "Traveler" Built in 1977 it was the third of four sister ships built by Blount boats for Fire Island ferries. It is a 300 passenger vessel, Steel hull, aluminum superstructure. 3 12V71 Detroit Diesels. It is nearly identical to its immediately older sister the 1976 "Fire Island Miss", while the oldest and newest of the class (the 1972 "Capt. Patterson" and 1981 "Fireball") have more noticeable differences. The Traveler spent most of its first decade running primarily to Ocean Beach and Fair Harbor on Fire Island, before being shifted to Saltaire and Kismet runs alongside its sister the Miss in the 1990s. In the last decade, larger vessels have been assigned to those lines and the Miss and Traveler have been lightly used in passenger service, most often on Dunewood and Atlantique. The Capt Patterson was retired in 2011 and has since been sold to Boston Harbor Cruises where it runs as the Michael B Meli. The Fire Island Miss remains active, albeit mostly used on freight runs. The Fireball is the one boat in the class which is still in day to day service, although less frequently in recent years. Outside of Fire Island Ferries, Blount has built 5 other boats to the same dimensions- the 1982 Kiki which is owned by Davis Park Ferries, which runs to the other end of Fire Island, and 4 boats were built in 2011 or so for the US Army in the Marshall Islands. Some photos of the Traveler and her sisters: www.ttmg.org/pages/blount/fif-blounta.html |
|
FNS
Voyager 
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
|
Post by FNS on Oct 22, 2018 18:04:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by compdude787 on Dec 1, 2018 11:42:02 GMT -8
I was just looking through this thread, and I can't help but notice how much the under-construction Ollis-class ferries resemble the Washington State Ferries. I guess that's just a consequence of having them be designed by a Seattle firm. Also, I found a site called www.siferry.com/ that has a lot of information about former ferries operated on the Staten Island ferry route. It's pretty interesting. |
|
4runner
Oiler (New Member)
Posts: 3 
|
Post by 4runner on Aug 7, 2019 9:16:14 GMT -8
$75 STATEN ISLAND FERRY LIFEJACKET $75 I have an original orange life jacket from the now retired Staten Island Ferry boat "GOV. HERBERT H LEHMAN" It is in its original condition. It is stenciled with the name GOV. HERBERT H LEHMAN The former Staten Island ferryboat THE GOV.HERBERT H LEHMAN made her last trip on June 30, 2007 on the run from Whitehall Street to Saint George. Local pickup in northern NJ, or shipping can be arranged if paid with PayPal. Thanks- Here’s a link to pictures: share.icloud.com/photos/0z5QcOb1BCf9KiJe_2VlX8JOw#SI_FERRY_LIFEJACKET |
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Nov 18, 2019 20:56:02 GMT -8
The first of the Ollis-class ferries, the M/V SSG Michael H. Ollis, was launched this past Friday.
|
|
Thor's Echo
Oiler (New Member)
Please, please, do not Pugmark me.
Posts: 42
|
Post by Thor's Echo on Nov 19, 2019 12:00:17 GMT -8
The first of the Ollis-class ferries, the M/V SSG Michael H. Ollis, was launched this past Friday. Coming soon to a amusement park near you...It would be cool to have a ride in a contraption that simulates a ship launch like that. Yeee Haaa!!!!🤠👍 |
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Oct 5, 2021 20:05:13 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on Oct 15, 2021 7:51:19 GMT -8
<u>Tuscarora Marine Log No. 21</u>
<u>New Staten Island Ferryboats – 2021</u>
The New York City Department of Transportation has accepted delivery of the first of a new class of vessels for use on the Staten Island Ferry.
SSG MICHEAL H. OLLIS arrived in New York harbor on August 14, 2021 and was formally commissioned into the fleet on October 4, 2021.
She was built by Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Florida as Hull No. 219. The vessel is 304 feet long by 70 feet wide and displaces 4669 gross tons.
The OLLIS is a three deck all-passenger boat with a capacity of 4570.
Her sister ships will be the SANDY HOOK (Hull No. 220) and the DOROTHY DAY (Hull No. 221). Both vessels have been launched and are nearing completion.
The three new boats will replace the JOHN F. KENNEDY, ANDREW J. BARBERI and SAMUEL I. NEWHOUSE. The KENNEDY entered service in 1965 and holds the house record for longevity in service, 56 years.
SSG MICHEAL H. OLLIS is named for U.S.Army Staff Sergeant Micheal H. Ollis who was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013.
SANDY HOOK is named for the community of Negro freedman located in the Rossville section of Staten Island.
DORTHY DAY was a Staten Island journalist and activist.
|
|
|
|
Post by irtredbirdr33 on Oct 16, 2021 2:02:06 GMT -8
<i> Please not that the second vessel of the Ollis Class is named SANDY GROUND not Sandy Hook. I apologize for the typo.</i>
<u>Tuscarora Marine Log No. 21</u>
<u>New Staten Island Ferryboats – 2021</u>
The New York City Department of Transportation has accepted delivery of the first of a new class of vessels for use on the Staten Island Ferry.
SSG MICHEAL H. OLLIS arrived in New York harbor on August 14, 2021 and was formally commissioned into the fleet on October 4, 2021.
She was built by Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Florida as Hull No. 219. The vessel is 304 feet long by 70 feet wide and displaces 4669 gross tons.
The OLLIS is a three deck all-passenger boat with a capacity of 4570.
Her sister ships will be the SANDY GROUND(Hull No. 220) and the DOROTHY DAY (Hull No. 221). Both vessels have been launched and are nearing completion.
The three new boats will replace the JOHN F. KENNEDY, ANDREW J. BARBERI and SAMUEL I. NEWHOUSE. The KENNEDY entered service in 1965 and holds the house record for longevity in service, 56 years.
SSG MICHEAL H. OLLIS is named for U.S.Army Staff Sergeant Micheal H. Ollis who was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013. He was a native of Staten Island.
SANDY GROUND is named for the community of Negro freedman located in the Rossville section of Staten Island.
DORTHY DAY was a Staten Island journalist and activist.
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Dec 12, 2021 14:33:08 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 8, 2022 13:05:52 GMT -8
The M/V John F. Kennedy has been put up for sale. link |
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 20, 2022 17:56:09 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Feb 14, 2022 14:24:12 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Feb 25, 2022 14:53:24 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Sept 2, 2022 13:33:39 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by SS San Mateo on Sept 8, 2022 17:03:46 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Oct 17, 2022 9:28:14 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Oct 22, 2022 21:16:15 GMT -8
Staten Island ferry Sen. John J. Marchi loading @ Staten Island terminal, New York, NY. My wife, son Ben. & I, were aboard this vessel for the return trip to Manhattan.
17 October 2022
|
|
