Ollis-class ferry
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Eastern Shipbuilding |
| Operators: | Staten Island Ferry |
| Preceded by: | Molinari-class |
| In service: | 2019- |
| Planned: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ollis-class passenger ferry |
| Length: | 320 ft (98 m) |
| Beam: | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Draft: | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion: | Diesel |
| Capacity: | 4,500 passengers |
The Ollis-class ferries are passenger ferries that are planned to enter service for the Staten Island Ferry in the late 2010s. The class is named after US Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, a Staten Islander who was killed in action during the War in Afghanistan in 2013.
Early work on the class began in August 2014, after a study into the future of Staten Island Ferry's fleet showed that the most economical course would be new-build ships instead of rebuilding existing vessels. The Elliott Bay Design Group was awarded a contract to design the new ships, which will replace MV John F. Kennedy, MV Andrew J. Barberi, and MV Samuel I. Newhouse. The following month, substantial funding for the project, covering the construction of two ships, was secured with a $191.6 million federal grant from the Hurricane Sandy relief bill. As part of the new order, city officials allowed passengers to vote on the types of seats that would be installed in the new fleet.
In November 2016, Eastern Shipbuilding was confirmed as the low bidder for constructing the ships, and the shipyard was awarded the contract with a notice to proceed on March 1, 2017. The final price for construction of the three vessels was $314 million; in addition to the federal grant, state and city funding was also used. The first vessel, MV Michael H. Ollis, is expected to be delivered in 2019.
A petition to name one of the Ollis-class ships after Staten Island firefighter John G. Chipura, who died in the September 11 attacks, reached 11,000 signatures by September 2017.
Each ship of the class will be 320 feet (98 m) long, with a beam of 70 feet (21 m), and a loaded draft of 13 feet (4.0 m). They will carry 4,500 passengers. They will be powered by four Electro-Motive Diesel engines, which drive a propeller at each end of the ship for double-ended operation.
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