Recently christened vessel is part of the governments' new, affordable city-wide ferry service
By
Rebecca Gibson |
NYC Ferry has officially christened and launched the first of 20 passenger ferries, which will operate a new, affordable, city-wide ferry service as part of a government initiative.
Christened Lunch Box following a naming competition held among school pupils from New York, the new 26-metre-long catamaran was commissioned by Hornblower Cruises for NYC Ferry. The vessel has been designed by Incat Crowther and was named by godmother and New York City’s deputy mayor Alicia Glen.
Like her sister ships, Lunch Box has been designed with the standard New York City bow loading geometry to ensure she can nose into the city’s wharves with minimal mooring and deliver quick turnarounds. The wheelhouse is situated immediately behind the foredeck to provide the captain with view over the boarding area and enhance operational safety.
Powered by a pair of Baudouin 6M26.3 main engines, Lunch Box has a top speed in excess of 27 knots and also has efficient Tier 3-certified main engines, dry exhausts and vinyl coating in lieu of toxic solvent-based paints. This makes her one of the cleanest vessels operating in US waters.
Onboard, the ferry has a large, open main deck cabin with seating 119 for passengers and passengers in wheelchairs or families with prams. The upper deck seats 28 passengers in an open configuration. Other highlights will include a concession stand selling food and beverages, multiple device charging stations, and free wi-fi.
NYC Ferry also welcomed two other ferries the day Lunch Box was christened, while the remaining vessels will join the fleet over the coming year. Incat Crowther will continue to work closely with two shipyards, Horizon Shipbuilding and Metal Shark, to complete and deliver the ferries in the short timeframe.
Introduced by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the city-wide ferry service will serve five routes in New York City by the end of 2018. The Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes are scheduled to start in 2017, while the Soundview and Lower East Side routes will launch in 2018. Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island will be considered in future studies after the 2018 routes launch.
This will be New York City’s first city-wide ferry system in more than 100 years and it is estimated it will provide 4.6 million passenger trips per year once the service reaches its full potential.