Governors Island debuts first hybrid-electric ferry in NY

Governors Island is charting a new course.

The state’s first hybrid-electric public ferry set off on its inaugural voyage from lower Manhattan to the popular tourist and ecological site Tuesday — christened with a champagne bottle to hail what officials called its “groundbreaking” milestone in sustainability.

The newly minted “Harbor Charger” — weighing in at more than 11 subway cars — is expected to bring faster and quieter service to Governors Island on 70% fewer carbon emissions than comparable diesel-fueled craft, officials said.

In addition to helping to save the environment, the new ferry will slash the typical $417,000 in annual fuel and electricity costs for diesel ferries, they said.

“This ferry is more than just transportation. It’s an integral part of our experience and our journey to Governors Island,” said Clare Newman, president and CEO for the Trust for Governors Island.

“It’s our chance to experience the sights and sounds of New York Harbor. It’s where we feel the sea breeze usually and pause to appreciate the views of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn,” she said.

“It’s the vessel that brings a million annual visitors to Governor’s Island each year to one of our city’s most treasured destinations. But today, Governors Island expands its role as a leader in creating solutions to the climate crisis.”

Newman smashed a bottle of champagne over the ship’s stern to christen the new vessel, a project that was seven years in the making.

The Harbor Charger comes with a $33 million price tag, a cost that is generally higher than what a diesel-only ferry would have cost, though Newman emphasized that it would be cheaper in the long run.

The existing diesel-only ferries burn up an average of 420 gallons of fuel per day.

The white passenger ferry will replace the aging, diesel-powered Lt. Samuel S. Coursen, which has been in continuous use since it was commissioned by the US Army in 1956 and was the first to ferry citizens to the island when it was opened to the public 20 years ago.

While the two vessels look similar in design — even down to their 1,200-passenger and 30-car capacities — their guts couldn’t be more different.

The Harbor Charger is outfitted with 122 lithium-ion batteries that power the vessel’s propulsion, lights and air conditioning, which can generally run for 2.5 hours.

When the batteries begin to lose power, the boat will automatically turn to diesel fuel.

“At 80% [charge], the batteries will actually turn on and start running. The generator will shut down,” explained Julio Santiago, general manager for New York Waterway, which runs the ferry service for the island.

“At 30%, when the battery needs to charge, the generators will turn off by themselves and start powering and charging the battery.”

The electrical humming is expected to be much quieter than the guttural churning of the gas-powered boats.

There are several other electric fleets throughout the country, the first of which sailed through Alabama in 2019, but the Harbor Charger marks the first in New York.

The new local passenger ferry will run on both diesel and electricity for the next two years while Newman’s group builds a charging station on Governors Island, at which time the Harbor Charge will transform into a purely electric vessel.

And while it is weighed down with 465 tons of steel — roughly equivalent to 11 subway cars — the Harbor Charger boasts an increased speed of 10 to 12 knots, which is 66% faster than The Trust’s three other ferries. That speed might not matter too much, however, because the trip is so short, according to Santiago.

Unlike the rest of the fleet, the Harbor Ferry is the only one able to maneuver a 360 spin in place, meaning boating captains no longer have to make multiple-part turns to load and unload passengers on the correct side of the docks.

Plus it has one important aspect that the Coursen does not: air conditioning.

The Coursen will continue to operate through the end of the year before taking its final voyage and is actively being solicited for a new owner to live out its retirement.