Passenger Vessels News

The San Francisco Bay Ferry announced on Thursday that it has received a $12.5 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) to establish a zero-emission, battery-electric ferry service at the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal in Alameda.This funding will significantly enhance SF Bay Ferry’s Rapid Electric Emission-Free Ferry (REEF) Program, aimed at transitioning the agency’s fleet to zero-emission propulsion. The grant, part of CalSTA’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)…

Staten Island Ferry and NYC Ferry will begin testing renewable diesel fuel as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional diesel. This initiative is expected to slash carbon emissions by 60% or more, providing nearly 30 million annual riders with a cleaner way to traverse the city's waterways.The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is currently testing renewable diesel on the Marchi Staten Island Ferry, which will replace the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel now used in the fleet.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has cited survey failings in the results of its investigation into the loss of propulsion control and subsequent contact with a moored barge by Oceandiva London.On June 22, 2023, the inland waterways passenger vessel lost propulsion control and contacted a moored hopper barge at Halfway Reach on the River Thames, London. Oceandiva London was undergoing propulsion trials as part of its Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) survey required…

Faced with an aging fleet, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority has turned to converted offshore support vessels (OSV) to breathe new life into its ferry operations.The operator announced its purchase of the OSVs HOS Shooting Star and HOS Lode Star from Hornbeck Offshore Services in 2022, to replace its open-deck freight vessels Gay Head and Katama, and several months later, the operator exercised an option to acquire a third OSV, HOS North Star…

American Cruise Lines announced the construction of American Maverick and American Ranger, the seventh and eighth vessels in the company’s Project Blue series of small ships for the U.S. market. Both vessels are slated to begin cruising in 2026, directly following the 2025 debuts of American Patriot, American Pioneer and new riverboat American Encore (2026).American’s Project Blue series began with four 100-passenger Coastal Cats introduced in 2023 and 2024. The newest Patriot Class ships…

Port Angeles, Wash. boatbuilder BRIX Marine has launched three custom-built 34-foot foil assist catamarans for Na Pali Experience, a boat tour company in Kaua'i, Hawaii. The three USCG Subchapter "T"  vessels Kulea, Lanakila and Tokihi were designed in collaboration with Jutson Marine Design and feature asymmetric catamaran hulls and midship-mounted hydrofoils for improved performance in varying sea conditions. Each offers seating for up to 20 passengers and one crew member.Each vessel is equipped with twin 300 HP Suzuki outboard engines and a fuel capacity of 2  x 100-gallon tanks…

Panama City, Fla. based shipbuilder Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) on Friday announced it has officially cut first steel for the new Fisher Island Ferry, Falcon, at its Allanton Facility.The Elliott Bay Design Group-designed auto and passenger ferry will be constructed at ESG’s Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities and is expected for delivery in Spring 2026. The 152-foot (loa) vessel will have capacity for up to 30 cars and 150 passengers.In attendance for the steel cutting were members of the Fisher Island Community Association, Inc.

Three shipyards have expressed interest in building a long-awaited series of new hybrid-electric car and passenger vessels for Washington State Ferries (WSF).Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash.; Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Fla. and Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia have sent pre-qualification packages after WSF earlier this year invited shipbuilders to bid, Washington State Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Steve Nevey, the head of WSF…

Hornblower Group announced it has named Michelle Mason as its new chief people officer, responsible for the global human resources strategy to support Hornblower’s 5,000-plus employees worldwide.Joining Hornblower Group’s executive team and reporting to CEO Mike Flaskey, Mason brings more than 25 years of experience in HR and strategic consulting services for international corporations. She joins Hornblower from Kinetic Consulting and following a decades-long career with Procter & Gamble.

Carnival Corp raised its annual profit forecast for the third time on Monday and beat market expectations for third-quarter results, helped by strength in demand for cruise vacations as well as easing costs of operations.Cruise operators benefit from increased demand for vacations at sea during the summer, boosting an already robust year for the companies as more travelers opt for the cruise experience."Strong demand enabled us to increase our full-year yield guidance for the third time this year…

Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority general manager Robert B. Davis announced he will step down from his role at the helm of the agency in approximately one year and transition into an advisory capacity.Davis, who was appointed general manager in 2016 and began in the role in 2017, made the announcement at the Board’s monthly meeting, which was held on Nantucket.The Authority said it has commenced its search for a successor.Davis will continue to serve as an advisor to the Authority following the fulfillment of his one-year notice period.

Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries announced it is moving forward with a program to build a series of new vessels for its busiest routes.The company said on Monday it has put out a request for proposals (RFP) to pre-qualified shipyards for the construction of the first five of seven new vessels in its New Major Vessels (NMV) project, with contracts expected to be awarded in Spring 2025, subject to approval from the Ferry Commissioner. The first ship is intended to start service in 2029…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has unveiled nearly $300 million in grants from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at transforming and expanding ferry systems across the United States. This substantial investment will support the modernization of ferry services, which are vital for millions of Americans.Each year, ferries facilitate approximately 56 million trips nationwide, playing a crucial role in transporting people and goods…

Clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger hosted a unique "nautical" event earlier this month, showcasing its upcoming spring collection on a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry vessel during New York Fashion Week.The fashion show marked the first event held aboard the retired ferry John F. Kennedy since it was acquired by celebrity comedians Pete Davidson and Colin Jost in 2022. The vessel was docked at South Street Seaport's Pier 17 for the September 8 event, which featured Tommy Hilfiger’s…

An engine room fire led to the evacuation of dozens of passengers from a NY Waterway ferry during the busy rush hour commute on Tuesday evening.The 65-foot vessel Father Mychal Judge was transiting along the Hudson River en route from Manhattan to New Jersey when the blaze broke out on board.Passengers and nearby observers told local media that flames could be seen on board, and images shared on social media show clouds of thick, gray smoke billowing from the ferry.The ferry's crew was able to contain the fire by sealing the engine room and deploying the vessel's extinguishing systems…

Aluminum boatbuilder BRIX Marine announced it has launched a new custom-built whale watching vessel for Allen Marine Tours, in Alaska.The new vessel, Raven, a 4818-HTC passenger catamaran, is the second vessel BRIX Marine has developed for Allen Marine, following the launch of the Eagle in September 2023.According to the builder, Raven is designed to enhance the whale-watching experience in Alaska’s waters, focusing on passenger comfort, safety, and sustainability. The vessel features a 48-foot hull, a 17’ 6” beam, and a lightship weight of approximately 31,000 pounds.

Kitsap Transit, a public transit operator serving Kitsap County, Wash., announced it will receive $13.5 million in federal funding toward the purchase of a new fast ferry that would replace one of its oldest vessels on its Kingston/Seattle route.The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant program and covers nearly 80% of the project’s $17.5 million cost. Kitsap Transit said it will contribute about $4 million in local dollars to the project.“This…

Naval architecture and marine engineering firm BMT announced it has teamed up with Canadian ferry transportation company Greenline Marine to develop a new all-electric ferry design.The new 32-meter Greenline 150 Passenger Electric Ferry is equipped with the latest in electric propulsion technology and features an optimized hull form and propulsion system, with hull, propellers and rudders engineered to reduce the energy required for movement. This focus on efficiency directly…

The Maine Department of Transportation and Maine State Ferry Service commissioned the Charles Norman Shay ferry in Rockland on September 12.The 104-foot passenger/vehicle ferry, which will primarily serve Matinicus Isle, was designed by Gilbert Associates and built by Bayou la Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Steiner Shipyard. It has capacity to carry 149 passengers and seven cars. The Maine Department of Transportation said it paid approximately $11.7 million for the vessel.The new ferry…

American Liberty, the third new Coastal Cat in American Cruise Lines’ series of 100-passenger ships, was christened in Newport, R.I. this week.Built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md., American Liberty is the newest ship in American’s ongoing Project Blue series of 12 new small ships for river and coastal cruising in the U.S. Several more ships in the series are already under construction, including the fourth Coastal Cat, American Legend, which is set to begin cruising in November 2024…

Washington State Ferries announced it has canceled the sale of two retired vessels after the buyer failed to meet its contractual obligations and left a tugboat crew abandoned in Puget Sound.Sold in August for $100,000 apiece, the decommissioned WSF ferries Elwha and Klahowya had been sold to Nelson Armas, who has gained approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) to transport the out-of-service vessels by tow for recycling at a steel mill facility in Ecuador.But when Armas attempted to move the ferries to Ecuador…

Hornblower Group on Tuesday announced Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has been appointed as the Chairwoman of the Board, effective immediately.A global hospitality and cruise industries leader, Lutoff-Perlo will help in guiding Hornblower’s strategic direction and fostering growth, innovation, and operational excellence across the company’s diverse portfolio of businesses, Lutoff-Perlo is currently the President and CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee. She previously served as Vice Chairman…

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is once again calling for safety management systems (SMS) to be required for all U.S.-flagged passenger vessels.On the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Conception dive boat fire that killed 34 people, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the federal safety watchdog, held a media availability with the families of the victims and again called on the U.S. Coast Guard to mandate SMS on passenger vessels such as ferries, tour and sightseeing vessels…