SIU-contracted NY Waterway last month continued the steady expansion of its fleet when it christened a new high-speed ferry in Weehawken, N.J.Named after former New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the boat is a 79-foot, bow-loading catamaran that can transport 149 passengers. It was built by Allen Marine, Inc. of Sitka, Alaska.
SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez and SIU Vice President Atlantic Coast Joseph Soresi led the SIU contingent attending the July 10 christening.
“We’re pleased to continue growing with NY Waterway, and we obviously welcome the additional job opportunities,” said Tellez. “It should also be noted that the company deserves a lot of credit for its exhaustive efforts to provide the most up-to-date safety training—specifically geared for passenger service—for the crews through the Paul Hall Center (based in Piney Point, Md.). That commitment to safety cannot be overlooked.”
NY Waterway is the largest privately owned commuter ferry service in the nation, providing more than 60,000 passenger trips per day. The company utilizes 43 SIU-crewed boats on 19 routes between Brooklyn, N.Y. and Manhattan, and between Rockland and Westchester counties, with additional routes being developed. Additionally, NY Waterway offers leisure and sightseeing cruises in the New York area.
Lautenberg, who in 1996 voted in favor of the U.S. Maritime Security Program, said at last month’s christening, “A principal focus of my work in the U.S. Senate was to enable people in this crowded metropolitan area to reach their destinations more comfortably and more efficiently. NY Waterway and the visionary Imperatore family (owner of the company) have played an enormous role in making life more pleasant when going to work, recreation or other places in this region. I am so pleased to have joined them in their important mission.”
“Sen. Lautenberg was one of the first leaders to recognize the value of commuter ferry service in providing safe, reliable, environmentally friendly transportation,” noted NY Waterway Pres. Arthur E. Imperatore Jr.
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