Spotted: First NYC Ferry Christened in the Big Apple

In today’s spotted we present you the first ferry in NYC Ferry’s fleet which was recently christened in New York.

The vessel was christened Lunch Box, following a naming competition held amongst New York school students.

Lunch Box is the first vessel in a fleet of catamaran ferries commissioned by Hornblower Cruises to form NYC Ferries, a government initiative to bring an affordable, city-wide ferry network to the Big Apple.

Over the coming year, the fleet is expected to grow to some twenty vessels and the network will grow to six routes. On Manhattan, the routes will be based out of Wall Street and East 34th streets and will serve areas such as DUMBO, Rockaway, Astoria, Brooklyn, Sunset Park.

The vessels are being constructed by two shipyards, Horizon Shipbuilding and Metal Shark. Naval architecture firm Incat Crowther has developed the ferries’ design.

The vessels offer quick turn-around using the standard New York City bow loading geometry. This allows the vessel to nose into wharves with minimal mooring. The wheelhouse of the vessel is situated immediately behind the foredeck, enhancing operational safety, Incat said.

Lunch Box, which can accommodate 150 passengers, is expected to be one of the cleanest operating in American waters, with efficient Tier 3 certified main engines, dry exhausts, and vinyl coating in lieu of toxic solvent-based paints, according to Incat.

With a length of 26 meters and a width of eight meters, the ferry is able to reach a maximum speed of 27 knots.