Steel Cut for New Staten Island Ferry

The City of New York Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Staten Island Ferry Division and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) cut steel to officially begin the construction of the first of three new 320’ Staten Island Ollis Class Ferries. The steel cutting ceremony held August 29, 2017 took place in Eastern’s steel processing and pre-fabrication building at its Allanton facility in Panama City, Fla.

Attending the ceremony from Staten Island Ferry Division was John Collins, Director of Ferry Engineering and Bill Tomalonis, Vessel Construction Manager SIF Division. Eastern’s CEO Brian D’Isernia and President Joey D’Isernia greeted the attendees. Eastern’s project managers are Kenneth Winpigler, Joe Stark, and Brian D’Isernia Jr. for construction, outfitting, and delivery for the Ferries. The project engineering staff from the firms of Elliott Bay Design Group and Glosten Associates were also in attendance. Eastern selected Guido Perla & Associates to produce the detailed design work while Eastern’s Vice President of Engineering Fernando Malabet and Naval Architect Kim Brooks are overseeing the design and engineering efforts for the project.

The initial steel cutting represents another major milestone of the contract. On March 1, 2017 Eastern received the Notice to Proceed (NPT) from The City of New York Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) commencing the detail design and engineering phase of the contract.

Eastern will construct and deliver all three vessels, which will operate between the boroughs of Staten Island and Manhattan daily. The Ollis Class double-ended 4,500 passenger ferries, are from a preliminary design provided by Elliot Bay Design Group, 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 and one 36 RV6 ECS/285-2 Voith Schneider Propellers at each end of the vessel.

The onsite Owners Representation for the duration of the project will be managed by Glosten Associates, Inc.

Eastern Shipbuilding selected Guido Perla & Associates as its detail designer.

ESG Hull #/Name: H219 - Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis; H220 – Sandy Ground; H221 - TBD

Length Overall: 320'

Length on Design Load Waterline: 308'-3 1/2"

Beam, Molded: 70'

Beam over Guards: 70'-3"

Depth at Main Deck at Side: 21'-6

Draft to DLWL: 13'

Displacement (molded) Subdivision: 3,380 LT

Displacement (molded) at DLWL: 3,160 LT

Light Ship Weight, Estimated: 2,550 LT

Gross Tonnage, Estimated: 4,570 Tons

Installed Horsepower: 9,980 HP

Fuel Oil Capacity (95 percent, approximate): 30,000 gal

Minimum Seating Capacity: 2,551

Maximum Passenger Capacity: 4,500

Crew: 16

Regulatory: ABS +A1, Ferry Service, River Service, +AMS Notation. USCG Subchapter H Passenger Vessel.