New ferry order for Metal Shark

USA-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has won an additional order for an aluminium catamaran passenger ferry for the NYC Ferry Service, operated by Hornblower.

In early August, Metal Shark received orders from Hornblower for four 30-metre, 350-passenger USCG Subchapter K vessels, which are a new and larger platform than the 150-passenger vessel fleet NYC Ferry currently operates.

An additional 26-metre, 150-passenger USCG Subchapter T vessel has also been ordered. All of the new vessels are currently in production at Metal Shark’s waterfront shipyard, with accelerated delivery timelines calling for all five vessels to be completed and delivered in 2018.

NYC Ferry’s new USCG Subchapter K vessels are powered by twin twelve-cylinder, 1,000kW Baudouin 12M26.3 diesel engines, coupled to ZF Marine ZF3050 gearboxes and turning custom five-blade Michigan Wheel propellers. These larger Rockaway-class vessels boast an operating speed of 24 knots.