Ollis-class ferry
Staten Island Ferry vessels
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The Ollis-class ferries are a trio of passenger ferries on the Staten Island Ferry, the first of which entered service in 2022. The class is named after US Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, a Staten Islander who was killed in action during the War in Afghanistan in 2013[1][2] and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump in February 2026.[3]
MV SSG Michael H. Ollis docked in St. George in January 2022 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Eastern Shipbuilding |
| Operators | Staten Island Ferry |
| Preceded by | Molinari-class |
| In service | 2022–present |
| Planned | 3 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ollis-class passenger ferry |
| Length | 320 ft (98 m) |
| Beam | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Draft | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion | EMD 710 diesel engines |
| Capacity | 4,500 passengers |
| Crew | 16 |
History
Early work on the class began in August 2014, after a study into the future of Staten Island Ferry's fleet showed that the most economical course would be new-build ships instead of rebuilding existing vessels.[4] The Elliott Bay Design Group was awarded a contract to design the new ships, intended to replace MV John F. Kennedy and MV Andrew J. Barberi, resulting in one additional ship in the Staten Island Ferry fleet.[5][4] The following month, substantial funding for the project, covering the construction of two ships, was secured with a $191.6 million federal grant from the Hurricane Sandy relief bill.[6] As part of the new order, city officials allowed passengers to vote on the types of seats that would be installed in the new fleet.[7]
In November 2016, Eastern Shipbuilding was confirmed as the low bidder for constructing the ships,[1] and the shipyard was awarded the contract with a notice to proceed on March 1, 2017.[2] The final price for construction of the three vessels was $314 million; in addition to the federal grant, state and city funding was also used.[2] The first vessel, MV SSG Michael H. Ollis, named after decorated U.S. Army soldier Michael Ollis, was expected to be delivered in mid-2019,[2] followed later that year by MV Sandy Ground, named after an early African American settlement on Staten Island.[8]
A petition to name the third Ollis-class ship after Staten Island firefighter John G. Chipura, who died in the September 11 attacks, reached 11,000 signatures by September 2017.[9] Other proposed namesakes included Russel Timoshenko, an NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in 2007.[10] In March 2020, the Mayor's office announced it would be named for Catholic social activist Dorothy Day.[11]
In October 2018, the timeline for the ferries' delivery was pushed back. Some of the parts for the first two Ollis-class ferries were being manufactured at Eastern Shipbuilding's shipyard in Panama City, Florida, which had been severely damaged after Hurricane Michael that month.[12][13] MV SSG Michael H. Ollis was launched in November 2019, with an expected delivery date of August 2020.[14] MV Sandy Ground was launched in June 2020.[15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the arrival of the new fleet was delayed again in July 2020.[16] MV SSG Michael H. Ollis was towed from Florida to New York in August 2021,[17][18] and she entered service on February 14, 2022.[19]
MV Sandy Ground was delivered at the end of December 2021[20] and entered service on June 17, 2022.[21] On December 22, 2022, a fire broke out in the engine room of the Sandy Ground.[22] The ferry remained out of service for repairs until late April 2025.[23]
The third ferry, MV Dorothy Day was launched at 26 March 2021,[24] delivered in September 2022,[25] and entered service on April 28, 2023.[26]
Design
Each ship of the class is 320 feet (98 m) long, with a beam of 70 feet (21 m), and a loaded draft of 13 feet (4.0 m).[2] Each ship can carry up to 4,500 passengers, with a crew complement of 16.[2][15] The four EMD 12-710 diesel engines in each ship are arranged in two married pairs, each of which drive a cycloidal propeller at each end of the ship for double-ended operation.[2]