NAVY YARD — The city’s forthcoming ferries will feature free Wi-Fi, heated decks and a lightweight design to improve fuel efficiency, new plans released by the Mayor’s Office show.
Each of the 19 Citywide Ferry boats, which will set sail in the summer of 2017 and be operated by Hornblower, will carry up to 149 passengers and be ADA-accessible, according to the plans.
There will be space for both wheelchairs and strollers on the main decks, and the outer decks will be heated during the winter months.
The boats will also include free Wi-Fi and charging stations, as well as concession stands, a recycling station and space for bicycles.
“The greatest city in the world deserves the greatest ferry system in the world. That’s exactly what New Yorkers are getting with these modern, efficient boats that come with Wi-Fi, charging stations, and plenty of space to move around comfortably,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
“Most importantly, when we launch Citywide Ferry next summer we will be connecting New Yorkers in transit-starved neighborhoods with good jobs and opportunities all over the city.”
While an environmental report released by the city in April said the ferries could significantly hike air pollution at 12 docking sites around the city, the mayor’s office says the new boats will be equipped with T3 engines that will reduce emissions and noise.
The ferries will be made primarily out of aluminum, which is lightweight and increases fuel efficiency, the mayor’s office said.
The boats' "innovative hull design" will also maximize fuel efficiency and reduce wakes, the mayor's office said.
“Hornblower is working with leading designers and maritime experts to deliver a 21st century ferry product to New York Harbor that will make working, living and playing along the waterfront that much easier,” said Cameron Clark, vice president and general manager of Hornblower, in a statement. “The overall concept of these new vessels reflects our desire to deliver a system that builds on our strong record of environmental efficiency, sustainability and resiliency.”
The mayor’s office announced in March that the ferry service, operated by San Francisco-based Hornblower, would launch next year.
The ferry service will cost the same as a MetroCard ride, currently $2.75, and run an estimated 4.6 million trips a year when it's fully operational in 2018, the city has said. Passengers will be able to bring their bikes for an extra $1 or buy a monthly unlimited bike pass for $20, according to the website. Free transfers will be allowed to other Citywide Ferry boats.
The boats will stop at 21 landings across the city, including existing East River stops, as well as new stops in Far Rockaway, Bay Ridge, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6, Governors Island, Grand Street in Manhattan, Stuyvesant Cove, East 62nd Street, East 90th Street, Long Island City, Astoria, Roosevelt Island and Soundview in The Bronx.
