Hampton Roads Transit Christens New Ferry

 

Designed by BMT and constructed by Armstrong Marine in North Carolina, the new vessel is a 149-passenger, 78-foot, aluminum ferry powered by twin Volvo D13-400 Tier III-compliant engines, spinning 36-inch propellers via Twin Disc reduction gears.

 

According to the designer, key improvements over the existing Elizabeth River ferries include electronic controls and navigation, greater fuel efficiency, accessibility features and a more efficient two-ramp configuration. In contrast with previous vessels that only had a single side ramp, the new configuration allows passengers to embark and disembark faster. The flat deck and door sill ramps also improve access for those with disabilities.

 

The timing is good for HRT, which recently celebrated the 15-millionth passenger on its ferry service. William Harrell, HRT’s CEO and president, commented, “In terms of today’s milestone, ferry service has surged in the last few months with the beautiful weather and the opening of the Waterside District,” a $40 million dining and entertainment complex built to spur the local economy of downtown Norfolk, Va. 

 

Norfolk Councilman Martin Thomas and Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe also delivered remarks, with Mayor Rowe having the honor of breaking the champagne.

 

The vessel’s christening is also a milestone for BMT. The Elizabeth River IV is the first in a series of U.S. passenger vessels due to be delivered in the next year, including new ferries for the Sayville Ferry Service, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority and Entertainment Cruises. “We’ve made a concerted effort to bring BMT’s world-class ferry design portfolio to the U.S. market,” said BMT Designers & Planners President Kai Skvarla. “It’s exciting to have our first passenger vessel designed exclusively here in the U.S. entering service, with a lot more on the way from BMT in the coming year.”