Governors Island Announces Arrival of New Ferry Vessel
‘Governors 1’ will go into service beginning June 15
400-passenger vessel designed to increase service from Lower Manhattan to every 20 minutes on weekends
May 23, 2019. New York, NY. The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) today announced the arrival of its new passenger ferry, the Governors 1. Built by Rhode Island-based Blount Boats, Inc., the new ferry will serve 400 passengers per trip between Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. The new vessel will officially go into service on weekends during the public season beginning June 15, increasing service between Lower Manhattan and Governors Island to every 20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
“QUOTE” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“QUOTE” said Alicia Glen, former Deputy Mayor and incoming Chair of the Trust for Governors Island.
[Additional quotes: NPS, electeds, Friends of Governors Island, NY Harbor School (?)]
“Blount Boats is honored to have been chosen by the Trust to build another iconic vessel for New York Harbor,” said Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats, Inc. “The Governors I joins eight other Blount built vessels currently operating for the waterways of New York City.”
The new ferry vessel was purpose-built to serve Governors Island’s expanded public access, visitor growth and future activation. The ferry will be initially deployed on weekends this summer and will provide quick, efficient service to Governors Island, carrying an additional 1,000 passengers per hour. The 132 feet long and 40 feet wide single passenger deck vessel is powered by two 800 horsepower engines and will travel at a speed of 14 knots. The primary route for the new vessel will be between the Battery Maritime Building, located at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan and Soissons Landing, the Island’s primary ferry landing located on the northern tip within the Governors Island Historic District.
The arrival of the new passenger ferry marks the latest investment in the ongoing transformation of Governors Island. Since 2010, over $400M has been invested in Governors Island by the City of New York, beginning with the construction of a new 43-acre park and infrastructure. The de Blasio administration is currently investing over $100M to upgrade and improve transportation and utility infrastructure to support the Island’s next phase of development. Since 2014, Governors Island’s visitation has nearly doubled from 400,000 to over 750,000 in 2018.
Governors 1’s arrival doubles the Trust’s ferry fleet and will supplement the Lt. Samuel S. Coursen, a 1,242 passenger, up to 30- vehicle capacity ferry. The Coursen was originally built in 1956 to serve the Island when it operated as a U.S. Army base, and later a U.S. Coast Guard base. The only publicly accessible vehicular ferry in operation in New York Harbor, the Coursen currently serves the Island’s Manhattan ferry route during the public season from May 1-October 31, and year-round for the Island’s staff and tenants. During the season, ferries to and from Brooklyn will continue to be operated by contracted service, in addition to weekend shuttle service between Pier 11 and Governors Island operated by NYC Ferry. Over time, the Trust plans to add additional routes between Governors Island and other parts of the City as access to the Island expands.
The project team is led by Blount Boards Inc., a family-owned shipyard led by Marcia Blount, based in Warren, Rhode Island and celebrating their 70th anniversary in business this year. Elliott Bay Design Group is the designer of the vessel and Glosten serves as Owners Representative, completing the vessel’s initial Basis of Design and previously developing the Shipyard Procurement Request for Proposals on behalf of the Trust for Governors Island. Blount and Elliott Bay Design Group were awarded the contract for design and construction services in July, 2017.
About The Trust for Governors Island
The Trust for Governors Island is the nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York that is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust’s mission is to transform Governors Island into a vibrant resource for New York City, making this island at the center of New York Harbor a destination with extraordinary public open space, as well as educational, not-for-profit and commercial facilities.
For more information, visit www.govisland.org.
Contact: Sarah Krautheim/646.413.1547/skrautheim@govisland.org