Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., has contracted with the city of New York’s department of transportation to build three new 320'x70'x21'6" Staten Island-Ollis class ferries. The city has operated the Staten Island Ferry since 1905. The ferry, which runs continuously, carries over 23 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile run between the St. George Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan.
With 13' drafts, the three Ollis class double-ended 4,500 passenger ferries, (2,551 minimum seating capacity) are from a design provided by Elliott Bay Design Group, Seattle, with each ferry featuring four Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12-710 Tier 4 compliant propulsion engines with two engines powering one Reintjes DUP 3000 P combining reduction gears from Karl Senner and one 36 RV6 ECS/285-2 Voith Schneider propeller at each end of the vessel. Total horsepower will be 9,980.
Each new ferry will have a gross tonnage of 4,570 tons, light ship weight of 2,550 LT (estimated), carry 30,000 gals. of fuel, and 16 crewmembers. The boats will be ABS classed, Maltese Cross A1, Ferry Service, River Service, Maltese Cross AMS Notation, USCG certified, Subchapter H Passenger Vessel.
NYCDOT's mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the city of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of its primary customers — city residents. The agency's work is guided by the Strategic Plan 2016: Safe - Green - Smart - Equitable. NYCDOT is customer-driven in all its activities, seeking opportunities to create partnerships in the provision of transportation services through appropriate relationships and alliances. To accomplish its mission, the department works to achieve the following goals: provide safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of pedestrians, goods, and vehicular traffic on the streets, highways, bridges, and waterways of the city's transportation network; improve traffic mobility and reduce congestion throughout New York City; rehabilitate and maintain the city's infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, streets, sidewalks, and highways; encourage the use of mass transit and sustainable modes of transportation; and conduct traffic safety educational programs.
