Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG), Panama City, Fla., on Friday announced it has delivered the new ferry Long Island to the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co., a subsidiary of McAllister Towing.
The 302′ passenger and auto ferry will provide service between Bridgeport, Conn., and Port Jefferson, N.Y., across Long Island Sound.
Designed by Gilbert Associates, Braintree, Mass., the ferry is powered by twin EPA Tier 4 Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12 ME 23B diesel engines, each producing 3,000 hp at 900 rpm and driving Reintjes WAF 3445 3.083:1 reduction gears delivering power to fixed pitch propellers.
The ferry is also equipped with three John Deere 6135 AFM85 diesel generators, producing 300 kw at 1,800 rpm, including two Berg MTT113 FPL bow thrusters, each driven by John Deere 6135 AFM85 diesels rated 500 hp at 2,000 rpm and coupled to Reintjes WVS 234 1.50:1 reduction gears. Steering controls are by Jastram. Karl Senner LLC supplied the reduction gearboxes and control systems for main propulsion and bow thrusters, as well as the Berg bow thrusters.
The addition of the Long Island ferry will establish a consistent three-vessel schedule during peak travel periods, improving both capacity and reliability of service across the Long Island Sound.
“This delivery is a proud moment for our team," said Joey D’Isernia, CEO and chairman of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. “It represents our strong partnership with McAllister Towing and our dedication to enhancing the infrastructure for Long Island’s residents and visitors. The Long Island will be a critical asset, delivering safe, reliable service and embodying our commitment to quality and innovation."
The new ferry joins two other Eastern-built vessels in the operator’s fleet: P.T. Barnum and Grand Republic, delivered in 1999 and 2003, respectively. McAllister Towing has commissioned more than a dozen vessels from ESG.
Buckley McAllister, the president of the ferry company, said, “P.T. Barnum, the founder of the ferry, once said that the noblest art is that of making others happy. All of those who have worked to make the ferry service what it is today can be very proud of their role helping drivers on the I-95 and Long Island Expressway. Eastern Shipbuilding has provided our company with over a dozen high quality vessels and transformed the maritime services we can offer. We are very thankful to Eastern Shipbuilding and the D’Isernia family for the happiness this new vessel will bring to our employees and customers for generations to come.”
