Boston Harbor City Cruises, a subsidiary of the Hornblower Group, announced it has been selected by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to continue operating the region’s ferry services.
The contract was awarded following a public proposal and evaluation process, extending the company’s role as the MBTA’s ferry operator for an additional five years and eight months, the operator said in a press release on Tuesday.
Boston Harbor City Cruises, which has served as an MBTA ferry partner since 1986, with a significant expansion of its responsibilities beginning in 1997, manages a fleet that includes seven company-owned vessels and nine owned by the MBTA. In 2024, the operator completed nearly 58,000 ferry trips and transported more than 1.4 million passengers, it said.
"On behalf of our crew, I'm thrilled to continue our successful partnership with the leadership of the MBTA to deliver results for the people of Massachusetts and offer residents and visitors alike a reliable, efficient, and fun commute onboard," said Bob Lawler, regional vice president and general manager of Boston Harbor City Cruises. "This selection reflects the years of successful collaboration between our team and the MBTA and a shared, comprehensive vision for building an integrated, industry-leading, and customer-focused ferry system of the future."
"Today is another exciting day at Hornblower Group as we announce our continued collaboration with the MBTA to provide outstanding ferry service across Boston and the surrounding region," said Mike Flaskey, CEO of Hornblower Group. "As the global leader in marine transportation, I couldn't be more proud of our local team and their commitment to building on Hornblower's rich maritime foundation to create amazing experiences for our riders both now and in the years ahead."
"The MBTA values its partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises and Hornblower Group as we continue our commitment to provide a robust schedule of reliable and convenient water transportation services," said David Perry, director of ferry operations at the MBTA.
