Ollis-class ferry explained

The Ollis-class ferries are a trio of passenger ferries on the Staten Island Ferry, the first of which entered service in 2022. 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.

History

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 and, resulting in one additional ship in the Staten Island Ferry fleet.[1] [2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

In November 2016, Eastern Shipbuilding was confirmed as the low bidder for constructing the ships,[5] and the shipyard was awarded the contract with a notice to proceed on March 1, 2017.[6] 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.[6] The first vessel, MV SSG Michael H. Ollis, was expected to be delivered in mid-2019,[6] followed later that year by MV Sandy Ground, named after an early African American settlement on Staten Island.[7]

A petition to name the third Ollis-class ship after Staten Island firefighter John G. Chipura, who died in the September 11 attacks, reached 11,000 signatures by September 2017.[8] Other proposed namesakes include Russel Timoshenko, an NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in 2007.[9] In March 2020, the Mayor's office announced it would be named for Catholic social activist Dorothy Day.[10]

In October 2018, the timeline for the ferries' delivery was pushed back. Some of the parts for the first two Ollis-class ferries were being manufactured at Eastern Shipbuilding's shipyard in Panama City, Florida, which had been severely damaged after Hurricane Michael that month.[11] [12] MV SSG Michael H. Ollis was launched in November 2019, with an expected delivery date of August 2020.[13] MV Sandy Ground was launched in June 2020.[14] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the arrival of the new fleet was delayed again in July 2020.[15] MV SSG Michael H. Ollis was towed from Florida to New York in August 2021,[16] [17] and she entered service on February 14, 2022.[18]

MV Sandy Ground was delivered at the end of December 2021[19] and entered service on June 17, 2022.[20] On December 22, 2022, a fire broke out in the engine room of the Sandy Ground.[21]

The third ferry, MV Dorothy Day was launched at 26 March 2021[22] and delivered in September 2022.[23]

Design

Each ship of the class will be 320feet long, with a beam of 70feet, and a loaded draft of .[6] They will carry 4,500 passengers, with a crew complement of 16.[6] [14] They will be powered by four EMD 12-710 diesel engines arranged in two married pairs, each of which drive a cycloidal propeller at each end of the ship for double-ended operation.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: New York City selects designer for new fleet of Staten Island ferries. Barone. Vin. August 6, 2014. Staten Island Advance. 2017-09-20. en-US.
  2. Web site: EBDG awarded Staten Island Ferry design contract . Marine Log . August 4, 2014 . April 6, 2017.
  3. Web site: $191.6 million grant for new Staten Island Ferries . Marine Log . September 17, 2014 . April 6, 2017.
  4. News: Staten Island Ferry Riders Helping to Pick New Seats. Fitzsimmons. Emma G.. September 28, 2015. The New York Times. September 19, 2017. en-US. 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Eastern low bidder for Staten Island Ferry contract . Marine Log . November 3, 2016 . April 6, 2017.
  6. Web site: Eastern Shipbuilding confirms deal for Staten Island Ferries . Marine Log . April 4, 2017 . April 6, 2017.
  7. Web site: Staten Island Ferry to be Named After Underground Railroad Stop, Mayor Says . DNAinfo . April 14, 2017 . Rizzi . Nicholas . February 27, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161519/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170414/west-brighton/sandy-ground-staten-island-ferry-mayor-bill-de-blasio . February 28, 2018 .
  8. News: Petition to name ferry boat after 9/11 hero reaches 11,000. Porpora. Tracey. September 10, 2017. SILive.com. 2017-09-20. en-US.
  9. Web site: Rizzi . Nicholas . Murdered NYPD Officer Could Have Staten Island Ferry Named After Him . DNAinfo New York . 2016-10-19 . 2018-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181009132039/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161019/st-george/nypd-russel-timoshenko-staten-island-ferry-petition/ . 2018-10-09 . dead .
  10. Web site: New Staten Island Ferry Boat to be Named for Dorothy Day, Renowned Social Activist Who Lived and Worked on Staten Island. . nyc.gov . June 2, 2021.
  11. Web site: Knudson . Annalise . Fla. company building new Staten Island ferries damaged in Hurricane Michael . Staten island Advance . October 17, 2018 . October 18, 2018.
  12. Web site: Blenkey. Nick. 2018-10-18. Workers return after hurricane to hard-hit Eastern Shipbuilding. 2020-06-30. Marine Log. en-US.
  13. Web site: Young. Michelle. 2019-11-18. Watch a New Staten Island Ferry Get Launched into the Water. 2020-06-30. Untapped New York.
  14. Web site: Eastern Shipbuilding launches second new Staten Island ferry . Workboat . July 2, 2020 . July 4, 2020.
  15. Web site: Bascome. Erik. July 2, 2020. New Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis ferryboat delivery delayed again. August 15, 2021. silive.
  16. Web site: Lovallo. Lauren. August 14, 2021. See new Staten Island ferryboat named after hometown hero arrive in New York Harbor. August 15, 2021. silive.
  17. Web site: March 1, 2021. Eastern Shipbuilding launches third Ollis-class ferry for New York's Staten Island Ferry. August 15, 2021. WorkBoat.
  18. Web site: Bascome . Erik . Staten Island Ferry boat SSG Michael H. Ollis makes maiden voyage with passenger service to Manhattan . silive . 2022-02-14 . 2022-02-15.
  19. Web site: Simas . Kayla . Ferryboat Sandy Ground arrives in NYC; see the second of 3 new Staten Island ferries . silive . December 31, 2021 . June 25, 2022.
  20. Web site: Alves . Giavanni . Inaugural ride of Sandy Ground ferryboat marks history of the oldest U.S. continuously inhabited free Black settlement . silive . June 17, 2022 . June 25, 2022.
  21. Web site: Martinez . Gina . More than 800 passengers evacuated after fire breaks out on Staten Island ferry . CBS News . 2022-12-22 . 2023-02-27.
  22. Web site: Blenkey . Nick . 2021-03-31 . Eastern Shipbuilding launches third Ollis class ferry . 2023-02-27. www.marinelog.com.
  23. Web site: 2022-09-06 . Eastern Shipbuilding delivers third and final Staten Island Ferry . 2023-02-27. www.workboat.com.

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