Tampa Bay Ferry Pilot Program Underway

HMS Ferries, Inc. has begin a passenger only ferry pilot project in the Tampa Bay, Fla. area, called the “Cross Bay Ferry.” The six-month pilot project was launched on November 1, 2016 and will connect the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa, and end on May 1, 2017. 

The pilot project is a unique, regional effort designed to demonstrate water transportation technology and service options to the residents and businesses of the Tampa Bay region. The Cross-Bay Ferry is a collaboration between St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Hillsborough and Pinellas County, and operates between the Vinoy Basin in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Convention Center.

The maiden voyage on November 1, 2016 kicked off weekend-service for the month of November, and daily service will begin in December. 

Greg Dronkert, President and COO of HMS Ferries, Inc., said, “The tremendous collaboration between the four local government entities is a positive reflection on the entire Tampa Bay community. At the end of this project the community leaders will be able to better understand the waterborne transportation needs of their constituents. We are excited to be playing a part in such an important and unique initiative.”

The vessel used is the Provincetown IV, a twin-hull aluminum catamaran with a cruising speed of 29 knots and a capacity of 149 passengers. The owner of the vessel is Bay State Cruises out of Boston, who is leasing the vessel to HMS Ferries for the duration of the project.