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First NYC Ferry Christened 'Lunch Box' in Champagne Ceremony in Brooklyn

By Katie Honan | April 17, 2017 3:08pm
 Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen christened Lunch Box, one of the new boats for the NYC Ferry, on Monday, April 17, weeks before its launch on May 1.
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen christened Lunch Box, one of the new boats for the NYC Ferry, on Monday, April 17, weeks before its launch on May 1.
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

BROOKLYN — The first NYC Ferry boat was christened Monday morning with the crack of a champagne bottle following an inaugural ride by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said the new service will make life easier for New Yorkers.

The mayor rode into Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park on the "Lunch Box" with Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, Economic Development Corporation President James Patchett and a slew of other officials.

De Blasio, who announced plans for the ferry service two years ago, said the point of the ferry service is to give people more transit options along with a calm ride.

"It's going to be a new day for our city, a new chance for people to get around in a better way, an easier way," he said.

 The "Lunch Box" is one of the ferry service's new boats, named by students in Brooklyn. 
PHOTOS: See Inside NYC Ferry's 'Lunch Box' Boat, Launching May 1
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The NYC ferry route. 

The NYC Ferry service, operated by a city contract awarded to Hornblower, launches May 1 with the route from Rockaway Park to Sunset Park and Wall Street.

On June 1, the South Brooklyn route will begin, the Astoria route will launch in August, and NYC Ferry will also take over operations of the East River Ferry. A one-way fare will cost $2.75 but will not include free transfers to the MTA's subways or buses.

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The "Lunch Box," which was named along with the other boats by second-graders at a school in Bay Ridge, pulled into Pier 1 at around 10:30 a.m. — accompanied by a jazz band on land and a fire boat doing a water show in the East River.

After a prayer from FDNY Chaplain Rev. Ann Kansfield, Glen christened the boat by cracking a champagne bottle on its side. 

De Blasio said the ferry service, renamed "NYC Ferry" from "Citywide Ferry" a few weeks ago, has been a "labor of love" for multiple electeds. 

"They knew that this would be something great for people and they knew they wanted to make it happen," he said.