First Ollis-class Staten Island ferry delivered

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has completed the first of three new Ollis-class Staten Island ferries for the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Staten Island Ferry Division.

Dann Ocean Towing’s Colonel is towing the ferry from Port St. Joe, Florida to New York City. The trip will take approximately 12 days. Upon arrival in New York, the ferry will be staged at Caddell Dry Dock on Staten Island for cleaning and another round of trials and training. The ferry is scheduled to begin transporting passengers in Q4 2021.

“We are proud to deliver Staten Island ferry Michael H. Ollis to New York City fully certified and passenger-ready," said Eastern Shipbuilding Group president Joey D’Isernia. "It is the first vessel of the modernised fleet and boasts the most advanced technology and environmental engineering in the maritime industry. It’s been an honour for Eastern to build this class named after one of our fallen heroes and deliver state of the art vessels for the world’s busiest passenger-ferry route. This iconic vessel transports millions of tourists and residents every year. It is a critical maritime infrastructure project that was proudly built by hardworking American ship designers and builders,” added Mr D’Isernia.

ESG is providing regulatory, production engineering, vessel construction, and delivery of the three new Staten Island Ollis-class ferries. The ferries have been constructed in ESG’s Allanton yard. ESG’s newest facility in Port St. Joe, Florida performed the outfitting, testing, and trials tasks.

The new ferries are larger, reflect modern technology, and will operate more safely in extreme weather conditions, ESG said, adding, “They feature popular design elements of past Staten Island Ferries and new customer-service amenities such as more comfortable seating and phone-charging outlets and an oval upper-deck promenade that will for the first time serve as an outdoor ‘walking track’ for ferry riders.”

ESG said in its statement on the ferry delivery: “They have the latest in marine technology for energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. There are design features on the vessels that are part of the emergency response plan with the city. Lessons from 9/11 were built into this fleet and they can be connected to the New York fire vessels, also built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, to support evacuations and rescue.”

Based on a esign from Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group, the three Ollis-class, double-ended 4,500-passenger ferries are each powered by four EPA Tier 4-compliant, Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) L12ME23B diesel engines, with two engines powering one Reintjes DUP 3000 P combining gear and one 36 RV6 ECS/285-2 Voith Schneider propeller at each end of the vessel.

Power generation is provided by three EPA Tier 3-compliant marine continuous-duty Caterpillar C18 diesel generator sets, driving 480 V, 60 Hz, 3-phase generators rated at 425 kW at 1,800 rpm.