On November 16th, 2016 NYC Ferry by Hornblower invited media professionals to visit Horizon Shipbuilding to learn about NYC Ferry’s mission, goals and progress. The vessel construction showcase event took the attendees through the process of NYC Ferry’s vessels from inception and construction to completion. So, how are our vessels built?
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 live, work and play in the city that never sleeps, enjoying ferry service across a four ferry routes stretching a full 60 miles of waterways from Astoria to Far Rockaway.
When the NYC Ferry Service is fully operational in 2018, the total of six routes will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year. The expansion of the city’s transit system by water builds on several years of ferry planning and operations experience, with NYCEDC leading the project by building ten new ferry landings, renovating six others, and selecting operator(s) to run the service.
Both shipyards carry outstanding merits over the past 50 years, it was easy to decide where Hornblower and NYCEDC wanted to get the vessels built in the tight timeline of 11 months. Horizon Shipbuilding and Metal Shark Boats have an expertise in building large quantities of top-of-the-line vessels for both domestic and international governmental agencies, constructed with 21st-century build strategies for passenger use as well as cargo (Professional Mariner).
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 are the vessels constructed at the two shipyards?
Horizon Shipbuilding
Ship Building
The Alabama shipyard builds its ten contracted vessels from hull to superstructure completing one total piece at the time, equipping each layer of the vessel with its appropriate electronics, fabrication and piping before moving to the next level of the vessel. That way, Horizon Shipbuilding builds the vessel by splitting the hull in two and building two them on two jigs, before moving on to flipping the canoes, placing frames, sides and under sell plating. Seven total vessels – three Rockaway Route and four “river route” vessels – are currently under construction at this shipyard, with parts on-site for vessels number eight and nine.
Vessel Number 1
This was the first vessel, which begun construction in July 13th 2016, and reached 100 days of construction earlier this November. The metal fabrication of this vessel has reached 95% completion, and is currently receiving its piping and electric equipment installed, its engine is being pre-aligned, and the welding of the vessel continues.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKtZNUkh78s/
Vessel Number 2
The shipyard’s second vessel is currently at 90% metal fabrication completion, and much like vessel #1, is receiving its piping and electronic equipment, continuing its welding and the vessel’s engine is currently being pre-aligned.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/citywideferry/31040899632/in/album-72157672929031974/
Vessel Number 3
This vessel has completed the fabrication of hulls and is moving on to fabricate the vessel’s superstructure and pilothouse, installing piping and is continuing welding.
Vessel Number 4 and 5
These two vessels are created for the Far Rockaway routes, with the larger bodies of open waters in mind, to lessen wakes and combat the winter’s icy waters. The hulls for vessel number four are being plated, the frames are in place, the lower section of the hull is 90% complete, and construction of the upper deck has begun. For vessel number five, all frames have been placed and the lower section of the hull has been plated. The plating for these hulls is unique to the Rockaway Route vessels.
Vessel Number 6 and 7
These vessels are currently in their first stages of construction, where the two canoes of the hulls are placed upside-down for fabrication and installation of frames, before being flipped right side up for the installation of the deck. Vessel number six is another Rockaway Route vessel, which has finalized the fabrication of the lower hull, begun the installation of the upper frames and deck, and was flipped right side up this week. Vessel number seven is an East River route ferry, currently upside-down for the fabrication of the lower hull and installation of frames, and expected to be flipped during the last week of November.
Metal Shark Boats
Ship Building
The Louisiana shipyard is currently contracted to build six total vessels for NYC Ferry by Hornblower, of which four are currently in construction, with parts on-site for the two remaining vessels. While Horizon Shipbuilding constructs the vessels one complete piece at the time from hull to superstructure, Metal Shark Boats has a slightly different (yet equally effective) approach on the construction of each vessel. At this shipyard, each vessel received one complete aspect at a time – such as all aluminum framework – from hull to superstructure, before moving on to the electronics, piping, and more.
Metal Shark Boats builds the hulls upside down (much like Horizon Shipbuilding), but 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 Number 1 and 2
Construction of the first vessel at Metal Shark Boats begun on July 26th 2016 and has, similarly to Horizon Shipbuilding’s first few vessels, reached 100 days of construction earlier this November. This vessel has completed 95% of total fabrication and recently begun the fit-out for the deck’s seating and concessions stands. The second vessel has completed 95% of fabrication and is awaiting the start of fit-out installations.
Vessel Number 3 and 4
The shipyard’s third vessel have finished its hulls and has begun working on the super structure’s fabrication, before this will be placed on top of the hull and main deck. As for vessel number four, all frames are in place and the workers are currently plating the hulls.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNK1rpnh0UF/?taken-by=citywideferry
Vessel Number 5 and 6
Metal Shark Boats have two more vessels to begin construction on, which have their parts already at the shipyard and are estimated to begin construction in December.
Our vessel construction showcase and informational media day at Horizon Shipbuilding spiked great interest by New York Times, Professional Mariner, Work Boat Magazine and Marine Link to name a few. For more photographs please visit our Flickr page, and for further press coverage about the NYC Ferry by Hornblower project, please visit our media coverage page.