At its Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Florida, Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) celebrated the launch and christening of the ferry Long Island on Friday.
Delivery of the new Subchapter H passenger and auto ferry is slated for later this year, and it is being built for Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a branch of McAllister Towing. The ship will be utilised for operations between Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port Jefferson across the Long Island Sound. The yacht was christened by N.Y. Rosemary McAllister, Director of Strategy.
Joey D’Isernia, CEO and chairman of ESG, stated, “This launch is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team at Eastern Shipbuilding Group.” It is a pleasure for us to collaborate with our friends at McAllister Towing and help improve Long Island’s transport system for both locals and visitors.
Gilbert Associates of Braintree, Massachusetts designed the 302-foot-long ferry, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people and 124 cars, or a combination of cars and up to six trucks. The builder claims that Long Island has a larger staff capacity and a better furniture bundle.
The vessel is powered by twin EPA Tier 4 Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) 12 ME 23B, rated 3,000 HP at 900 RPM and driving Reintjes WAF 3445 3.083:1 reduction gears delivering power to fixed pitch propellers. It will be capable of operating at 17 knots.
Long Island will become a part of a fleet that also consists of the P.T. Barnum and the Grand Republic, two more ferries built in the East that were delivered in 1999 and 2003, respectively. The most recent newbuild will make it possible to guarantee a three-vessel schedule during the busiest times of the day when demand is at its highest.
“The noblest art is that of making others happy,” P.T. Barnum, the founder of the ferry, famously stated, according to Buck McAllister, president of the firm. Everyone who has contributed to the current state of the ferry service may take great pride in their contribution to the safety of motorists utilising the I-95 and Long Island Motorway.
