Florida yard floats out East Coast operator’s newest ferry

The Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) of Panama City, Florida, has launched a new Ro-Pax ferry ordered by the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a transport company that serves routes between Connecticut and New York.

Upon completion, Long Island will measure 302 feet (92 metres) long and will be fitted with EPA Tier IV engines.

Delivery is scheduled for later this year. The vessel will be third to be constructed by ESG for the same owner after the 1999-built P.T. Barnum and the 2003-built Grand Republic.

ESG said the addition of Long Island will help ensure that a three-vessel schedule can be provided for the peak periods when demand is most critical between the cities of Bridgeport in Connecticut and Port Jefferson in New York.