The Trust for Governor’s Island in New York City has contracted with Hornblower Marine, Bridgeport, Conn., to perform a refit on the Governors 1 ferry with a focus on increasing passenger capacity.
The modifications will include opening the 132'-long double-ended ferry’s upper deck for outdoor passenger use. She has a 40' beam and draws 7'6". This will increase the passenger capacity from about 415 to approximately 600 while maintaining the vessel’s subchapter K compliance. Subchapter K provides the guidelines for vessels that weigh less than 100 gross tons and carry more than 150 passengers for hire.
“The main objective is to open up the top deck and increase capacity,” said Nicole Fogerty, director of marketing and communications for the Trust for Governors Island. “The most exciting part of the project is allowing people to ride outside. They will get the views of the harbor and of the Statue of Liberty.”
Governors 1 is one of two vessels that the Trust runs to bring visitors from the terminal at the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan to Soissons Landing on Governors Island. Governors 1 is dedicated for passenger transportation, while the larger hybrid-powered Harbor Charger ferries vehicles and passengers. The island has a no-vehicle policy except for deliveries and maintenance use.
Designed by Elliot Bay Design Group and built at Blount Boats, Warren, R.I., Governors 1 launched in 2019. The steel-hulled ferry is powered by twin 800-hp Cummins QSK19 diesel inboards turning 63" Hundested controllable pitch propellers through Hundested CPG 38 gearboxes with a ratio of 3.96:1. Its max speed is 12 knots.
During peak tourist season, Governors 1 runs in the afternoon and evening daily. On the weekends, the vessel runs alongside the Harbor Charger for full-day sessions to keep up with passenger demand.
In the fall of 2025, the Trust for Governors Island decided it was time for an upgrade to meet that demand. The organization put out a request for proposals and received five quotes for the job. Hornblower Marine was ultimately chosen. The yard has a history with the Trust, having worked on vessels for the organization in the past. “Their facility, the time frame, they were the leader of the bunch,” said Lori Wasson, vice president of operations and services for the Trust for Governors Island.
A crew from Hornblower picked up Governors 1 in early January. It first went into drydock, and then it was hauled and blocked on the yard property. “Management and the design team started working on the production plans,” said Jeffrey Brault, vice president of global affairs for the Hornblower Group, Orlando, Fla., parent company of Hornblower Marine.
Modifications to Governors 1 include opening the upper deck and adding centerline stairs with upgraded handrails and safety barriers. The passenger lounge ventilation system is being upgraded, as are the electrical, lighting, communications, lifesaving, and fire safety systems. There will be space for bike storage. Designers also focused on efficient passenger flow between decks.
Brault said that the yard should be able to meet the goal of having the ferry back in service for the start of the 2026 season. “Our goal is to get the boat back so it doesn’t interrupt the passenger experience during the busiest time of year,” he said. “With our abilities and in-house expertise, there isn’t anything specific on the project that we haven’t seen before. The team has done everything on the list and done it on budget and on time.”
