South Brooklyn ferry route to see three new, bigger boats amidst unexpectedly high ridership

Bigger boats are coming.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Ferry operator Hornblower announced on Monday, July 3 that, since launching just over one month ago, the ferry’s South Brooklyn route has carried approximately 83,500 riders – more than 30,000 more than initially projected.

Due to the unexpectedly high demand, NYCEDC and Hornblower have committed to adding capacity to three of its 20 boats. These new boats, officials said, will be outfitted with bigger engines and fit 250 passengers – up about 100 from the fleet’s current 149-passenger cap.

“In just a little over one month, the South Brooklyn route has already provided 83,500 riders with a convenient, comfortable and scenic way to get around the city,” said NYCEDC President James Patchett. “Surpassing initial projections by over 33,000 riders shows how excited New Yorkers are for this new transit option. And with three more routes slated to launch within the next year, we’re looking forward to bringing NYC Ferry to even more neighborhoods across the city.”

The South Brooklyn route connects riders from Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook and Downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Wall Street pier, with a seasonal connection to Governor’s Island. The Bay Ridge route sets sail from the nabe’s storied 69th Street Veterans Memorial Pier.

The South Brooklyn route joins two others currently in operation: the East River and the Rockaway route, with one more – the Astoria route – slated to set sail come August. The final two, the Lower East Side and Soundview routes, will launch next year, according to officials.