Federal Government Allocates $7.5 Million for Cutting-Edge Electric Ferry to Governors Island in New York City

The federal government is giving New York City’s Transportation Department $7.5 million to build electric charging infrastructure for the city’s planned electrification of ferry service to Governors Island. Plans were announced in March to replace the current diesel-powered ferry with the city’s first hybrid-electric vessel sometime next year. The federal grant will fund the construction of the charging infrastructure on Governors Island, including a battery energy storage system to support rapid charging of vessels and allow them to operate in zero-emissions mode. The charging system aims to reduce emissions, decrease maintenance costs, and improve reliability. The new hybrid-electric ferry is expected to be the first of its kind in operation in New York harbor, with the goal of eliminating between 600 and 800 tons of carbon emissions per year. The ferry, expected to carry up to 12,000 passengers at a time, is under construction in Louisiana and can make the half-mile journey from Lower Manhattan to Governors Island at about 11.5 mph. The grant for the electric ferry comes alongside another federal grant of $3 million to help rehabilitate a building for the Staten Island Ferry.