ferries – Pacific Maritime Magazine

25 Feb

SF Bay Ferry Reaches Passenger Milestone

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, sfbayferry

More than a million passengers have taken the Alameda Seaplane ferry route since it debuted on July 1, 2021, San Francisco Bay Ferry and the City of Alameda announced Feb. 12. The weekday Alameda Seaplane ferry route linking Alameda Point to downtown San Francisco has averaged about 1,500 riders daily, the second busiest weekday service on the SF Bay Ferry system. Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft called the milestone a huge accomplishment. “Our dedicated ferry riders … know that Seaplane offers an unbeatable commute – less than 20 minutes to San Francisco with … bike-friendly access,” Ashcraft said. “The City…

11 Feb

Everett Ship Repair Buys Decommissioned Ferry from Washington State Ferries

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newseverettshiprepair, ferries, wsf

Washington State Ferries has sold its decommissioned ferry Elwha to Everett Ship Repair for $100,000, WSF announced Jan. 30. Everett Ship Repair, a maintenance partner of WSF, said it plans to turn the 144-car ferry into a floating office and warehouse at its shipyard. “The Elwha has been part of Washington State Ferry history since 1968, and we're excited to see one of our ferries with so much history and memories for millions of passengers is being repurposed locally,” WSF Assistant Secretary Steve Nevey said. “It won't be the Elwha we've all come to know and appreciate,” he added, “but…

28 Jan

Washington State Ferries Ridership Rose in 2024

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, ridership, wsf

An estimated 19.1 million people rode Washington State Ferries in 2024, nearly a half-million more riders than in 2023, according to data released Jan. 13 by the state ferry system. The transit agency attributed the heightened attendance of 2.6% to a leap in walk-on riders and its fewest number of canceled sailings since 2020. Walk-on passengers accounted for the 5.7% increase (about 224,000 more riders) with tourism and more people returning to the workplace on the rise, according to WSF, which also saw a 1.1% uptick in passengers with vehicles with 102,000 people. The most notable year-to-year surge was experienced…

14 Jan

San Francisco Bay Ferry Touts Heightened Passenger Numbers

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, sfbayferry

About 2.6 million passengers rode the San Francisco Bay Ferry in 2024, 16% more than in the previous year, according to data released by the transit agency Jan 6. An average of 7,148 passengers used SF Bay Ferry daily last year, reflecting a 90% recovery of daily ridership numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the agency. During the second half of 2024, ridership rose to 97% of pre-pandemic levels, data show. Gains in ridership were experienced in several areas, including a 14% growth during the peak morning commute from 2023 to 2024, a 12% increase in weekend ridership and…

08 Oct

Kitsap Transit Nets $1.2 million for Electric Ferry Design, Demo

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbiekerboats, ferries, glosten, kitsaptransit

Seattle-based Kitsap Transit is anticipated to receive $1.2 million toward the design of an electric-powered fast ferry demonstration and shoreside charging infrastructure, it was announced Sept. 18. The grant adds to the $4 million Washington state Legislature grant that is expected to fund the design of the demo ferry, envisioned by Kitsap Transit as “a scaled-down version” of the Glosten and Bieker Boats-designed 150-passenger foil vessel. The vessel demonstration seeks to show the technology’s viability, which if successful could pave the way for the first all-electric hydrofoil fast ferry to be in service on Puget Sound, according to the transit…

01 Oct

San Francisco Bay Ferry Nets $11 Million for Fast Electric Ferries

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, reefprogram, sfbayferry

Efforts by the San Francisco Bay Ferry transit service to purchase three high-speed battery ferries are moving forward with the help of an $11 million Federal Transit Administration grant, it was announced Sept. 16. The grant is expected to fund SF Bay Ferry’s trio of 150-passenger battery-powered ferries that would serve Treasure Island, Mission Bay, Downtown San Francisco and other San Francisco waterfront communities. “San Francisco’s waterfront is thriving, and this award will make sure that they are connected and accessible using state-of-the-art zero-emission congestion-reducing ferries,” SF Bay Ferry Board of Directors Chair Jim Wunderman said. So far, the ferry…

24 Sep

Kitsap Transit Secures $13.5 Million for New Fast Ferry

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, fta, kitsaptransit

Kitsap Transit may soon be able to replace an aging ferry operating its Kingston-Seattle route with the help of federal funding. The Washington-based transportation organization is expected to receive $13.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant program toward the purchase of a new fast ferry, covering almost 80% of the $17.5 million project, it was announced Sept. 11. Kitsap Transit would underwrite about $4 million of the project. “This funding allows us to buy a new boat to operate a route that has been running with a backup vessel – m/v Finest – that is older and…

24 Sep

WSF’s Wenatchee Ferry Set to Return This Summer

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, vigor, wsf

Washington State Ferries’ vessel Wenatchee, which is in the midst of a major propulsion system and hybrid-electric power upgrade at Vigor shipyard, is expected to return to service in the summer of 2025, WSF announced Sept. 19. Vigor has been working on the vessel since WSF awarded the company a contract in September 2023 to upgrade the agency’s Jumbo Mark II class ferries with hybrid-electric power capabilities and finish needed propulsion system upgrades on the 1998-built Wenatchee, the 1997-built Tacoma and the 1999-built Puyallup. “There are no issues with the technology itself, but as is common with major vessel retrofits,…

06 Aug

Kitsap Transit to Run 2 Routes Without Spare Vessels

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, kitsaptransit

Seattle area public transit agency Kitsap Transit said July 30 that it has pulled two vessels for service, leaving the fast-ferry service on the Kingston/Seattle and Southworth/Seattle routes without spare vessels. The agency told passengers to anticipate canceled sailings in the event that the M/V Finest and M/V Solano need to be serviced. “We realize this isn't good news, but safety has to be our first priority,” Kitsap Transit Executive Director John Clauson said. “We want to give our customers the information they need to plan their travel accordingly.” The M/V Enetai and M/V Commander are both out of service…

09 Apr

SF Bay Ferry, Partners Commission Latest Vessel

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsauroramarinedesign, ferries, mavrikmarine, sfbayferry

San Francisco Bay Ferry on March 25 welcomed its newest high-speed ferry to its fleet, the m/v Delphinus, which is expected to serve commuters on its busiest route. The ferry is set to operate on the Vallejo route, which carried more than 700,000 passengers over the past year, according to SF Bay Ferry. The Northern California agency reported 2.3 million passengers throughout its system last year. Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) said the new ferry “exemplifies our commitment to meeting passenger needs, with design modifications based on valuable feedback.” “As the Vallejo route continues to lead in ridership within our…