The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has added two refurbished passenger ferries to its fleet to support expanded service between Boston, Winthrop, and Quincy. The vessels, formerly operating in New York Harbor under New York Water Taxi, underwent overhaul work at Fairhaven Shipyard, Fairhaven, Mass., before entering service this summer.
The 53’9”x18’8”x8’6” aluminum catamarans, Abigail Adams (formerly Mickey Murphy) and Harbor Gem (formerly Curt Berger), were purchased by the MBTA for $965,000 each. The boats were originally built in 2002 by Derecktor Shipyards, Bridgeport, Conn., and designed by Nigel Gee, Southampton, U.K.
The names for the two ferries were selected through a student naming competition held in April, which invited third- and fourth-grade students from Boston, Quincy, Winthrop, and Lynn, Mass. to submit ideas.
David Perry, MBTA director of ferry operations, told WorkBoat the vessels’ overhauls were mostly cosmetic, though some deck plating was replaced after corrosion was discovered beneath carpeted entryways. Other upgrades included replacing carpet and repainting interiors and exteriors, reinstalling original seating, installing new HVAC compressors and condensers on the Curt Berger, repairing the HVAC system on the Mickey Murphy, installing MBTA logos, and conducting engine health checks with minor engine room repairs, including work on injectors, valve timing, water pumps and exhaust systems.
Additionally, MBTA had Fairhaven Shipyard upgrade electronics to Furuno NavNet TZtouchXL radar and navigation systems, which is the standard system on all MBTA vessels.
Both vessels are powered by twin John Deere 6135SFM85 Tier 3 diesel engines, each rated at 650 hp. Propulsion is delivered through ZF ZF500-1A marine gears with a 1.964:1 reduction ratio, turning 5-blade 28” Nibral propellers with a 32” pitch, achieving a top speed of 20.5 knots. Ship’s service power is supplied by a 25 kW Northern Lights 864W3 generator.
Each vessel can accommodate 101 passengers and three crew, with a fuel capacity of 400 gals.
Both vessels now operate weekday direct routes between either Winthrop or Quincy and downtown Boston. The service previously used one 74-passenger ferry running a longer, circuitous loop. The added capacity has allowed MBTA to begin weekend seasonal service on the route for the first time.
“The existing ferry now serves as a hot standby spare ferry,” Perry said. “Having the spare vessel allowed us to start seasonal weekend service on this route for the first time ever. The weekend service uses one vessel on a loop route Winthrop-Quincy-Boston-Winthrop-Quincy. All trips on both routes stop at Logan Airport, the Seaport district in Boston, and downtown Boston (at Central Wharf / Aquarium).”
Despite their christening in June, each vessel is currently operating under their old names as the paperwork is being finalized to officially change the names of the two vessels.
The new additions increase the number of vessels owned or leased by the MBTA to nine, bringing the fleet’s average age to 17 years. Perry noted there are currently no plans to retire any vessels. MBTA is exploring opportunities to further expand its water transportation network. “The MBTA is committed to water transportation, which has significant growth potential in Boston Harbor,” Perry said before stating the MBTA is actively interested in acquiring additional vessels.
Perry said Fairhaven Shipyard continues to service a large portion of the MBTA and Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHCC) fleet. Additionally, BHCC, part of the Hornblower Group, announced this month that the company has been selected to continue operating ferry services for the MBTA following a public proposal and evaluation process. The new contract will extend the company’s role as ferry operator for five years and eight months. BHCC first began operating MBTA ferry routes in 1986 and expanded its role in 1997.
