2016 has been an incredible year for NYC Ferry by Hornblower. From winning the New York City BID in March to kickstarting vessel construction at our two U.S. shipyardsHorizon Shipbuilding (AL) and Metal Shark Boats(LA) in July, the vision of bringing New Yorkers a modern and reliable ferry system is quickly becoming reality.
Beginning in 2017, NYC Ferry by Hornblower will provide a new, affordable way to travel between waterfront communities throughout New York City. Subsidized by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (democrat), $2.75 per ride will allow New Yorkers work, live and play in the city that never sleeps, enjoying ferry service across a four ferry routes stretching a full 60 miles of waterways reaching from Astoria to Far Rockaway.
More than 100 employees are working tirelessly at both Horizon Shipbuilding (AL) and Metal Shark Boats(LA) to complete the total of 16 ferries that will be sailing up and down the New York City harbor come summer 2017. Each of the ferries that will be taking New Yorkers across routes between Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn for $2.75 per ride, take approximately 7.5 – 8.5 months to complete, and are projected to carry some 4.6million riders per year.
So how far have the vessels come in 2016?
Metal Shark Boats
This shipyard is currently constructing five of their six contracted Citywide Ferries, with material on-site for the sixth vessel. Metal Shark Boats begins the shipbuilding process by building the hulls upside down, and once this section has been completed, the hull is flipped and waits for the superstructure and pilothouse to be constructed separately and later placed atop the completed hull and main deck.
Vessel #1
Vessel #2
The second vessel at Metal Shark Boats, is currently finished with 95% metal fabrication, 70% of its railing installation, 60% of its insulation installation, 70% of the engine pre alignment, and the shaft/strud has begun. This means that it has come quite far and thus “looking more like a ferry,” just like vessel number one. The next step of installing the joinery package will start at the same time as the vessel before it.
Vessel #3 and #4
Vessel #5
This vessel is the newest addition to the construction, with its hull construction begun this week (week of December 19th), and will be flipped once the hulls are complete early 2017.
Horizon Shipbuilding
Vessel #1
Vessel #2
This vessel begun construction around the same time as vessel number one, and has also completed its metal fabrication. Furthermore, 65% of the insulation installation is complete, 95% of engine pre alignment, 95% of shaft/strud installation, 70% of its piping system and 40% of its electrical system. The next step will be for the joinery package to be installed, which will begin early 2017.
Vessel #3
Vessel #4
Vessel #5
Vessels #6-10
These are the second half of vessels being constructed at this shipyard, all in the beginning phases of metal fabrication. The sixth vessel has completed 45%, the seventh and eight vessels are at 35%, while the the ninth and tenth vessels are at 25%.