Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has been selected by HNY Ferry Fleet, operator of New York City’s Citywide Ferry Service, to build 26m 149-passenger aluminum high-speed ferries.
Metal Shark will produce a series of ferries at its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, which recently received a Small Shipyard Grant from the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to expand its facilities and shipbuilding capabilities.
The 25-acre waterfront facility has the necessary technical capability to efficiently produce passenger ferries while meeting the aggressive schedule requirements of the project.
The new Citywide Ferry service is set to launch in the summer of 2017 and will offer affordable travel throughout New York City to waterfront communities that have long been transit starved.
A new fleet of passenger ferries operating six routes over 60 miles of waterways will connect New Yorkers and visitors to waterfront communities across the boroughs, , servicing over 4.6 million passenger trips annually and integrating into the city’s overall transportation network.
The ferries produced by Metal Shark will utilize an Incat Crowther USCG Subchapter T design that delivers a 25-knot operating speed while reducing environmental impact by incorporating low emission engines and low wake technology.
The bicycle and stroller-friendly vessels are ADA-compliant and boast 360-degree views. Passenger amenities include onboard WiFi, power ports for small electronics such as computers and cell phones, and large LED infotainment screens.
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