Latest news with #HarborCharger
Time Out
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time Out
The first hybrid-electric ferry hits the Hudson bound for Governors Island
New York Harbor just got a little greener—and a lot quieter. On Tuesday, the Harbor Charger, the state's first hybrid-electric public ferry, made its maiden voyage from Lower Manhattan to Governors Island, marking a milestone in the city's push toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation. Christened with a celebratory Champagne smash, the $33 million vessel promises to cut carbon emissions by roughly 600 tons a year, eventually upping that number to 1,400 tons once it transitions to fully electric operation in about two years. Until then, it will operate in a hybrid mode, relying on 122 lithium-ion batteries supplemented by a diesel backup. Think Prius now, Tesla later. The Harbor Charger has the same carrying capacity as its predecessor—the 69-year-old diesel-powered Lt. Samuel S. Coursen —with room for 1,200 passengers and 30 vehicles, but the similarities stop there. It boasts modern amenities like ADA-accessible lounges, restrooms on each deck and even air conditioning (a summer blessing). Its maneuverability is next-level too: the 465-ton vessel can spin 360 degrees in place, making docking a breeze. Performance-wise, the Charger is no slouch. Cruising at 10 to 12 knots—up to 66-percent faster than the rest of the Governors Island fleet—it will shave minutes off the already quick hop across the harbor. And for passengers, the experience will be quieter, trading the guttural churn of diesel engines for a low electrical hum. The name came courtesy of a citywide naming contest, which drew more than 800 submissions. (Sorry, Watts Up Dock and Ferry Impressive didn't make the cut.) The winning entry came from Brooklyn resident David Kurnov, whose choice now emblazons the sleek white hull. Built at the Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana and designed by Elliot Bay Design Group, the ferry took a two-week coastal cruise up the Eastern Seaboard this spring to reach its new home. The Harbor Charger 's arrival is part of a broader climate-forward vision for Governors Island, which is also set to host the $700 million New York Climate Exchange, a state-of-the-art research campus focused on sustainability. For now, the Harbor Charger will share duties with the Coursen until the end of the year, when the elder vessel heads into retirement. Then, the island's 1 million annual visitors can look forward to a cleaner, faster and breezier trip—proof that even a short ferry ride can make a big environmental splash.
New York Times
6 days ago
- New York Times
A Hybrid Ferry Offers a Cleaner Run to Governors Island
Good morning. It's Wednesday. Today we'll find out about a new ferry that's cleaner and quieter than conventional ones. We'll also find out why the group that manages Central Park says carriage horses should be banned in the park. Julio Santiago nudged a controller that looked as if it belonged on a video game console, and added a footnote to the maritime history of New York City. He became the first captain at the helm of a hybrid-electric ferry, a $33 million vessel that officials said was cleaner than conventional diesel-powered ferries. Captain Santiago steered the new ferry, the Harbor Charger, on its inaugural run to Governors Island, the 172-acre oasis across New York Harbor from Lower Manhattan. Officials who were onboard said the ship was the future of maritime transportation, at least for trips like the ones to and from Governors Island. From the pier on South Street, the island is only 800 yards away — less than half a mile. But the route crisscrosses one of the busiest waterways in the world. Captain Santiago said he has to be on the lookout for things like chunks of ice in the winter — and swimmers like one who front-crawled by, shadowed by a kayak, while Captain Santiago was standing in the wheelhouse, waiting to rev the engine and pull away from Manhattan. The Harbor Charger is quieter than a conventional ferry, and Captain Santiago said it was also more maneuverable. 'This boat would actually turn on a dime — you could turn it 360 degrees,' he said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
