New Monmouth County Ferry to be Named the "Molly Pitcher" by NY Waterway

Photo: The “Molly Pitcher” is currently being constructed. Courtesy of NY Waterway

A new ferry, which will serve Monmouth and Ocean County residents out of Belford, will be christened the Molly Pitcher, NY Waterway Founder & President Arthur E. Imperatore and Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso announced Tuesday.

The first NY Waterway ferry built in the Garden State since the Weehawken-based ferry service started in 1986, the Molly Pitcher currently is under construction (see photos) at Yank Marine in Tuckahoe. Completely financed by NY Waterway, the Molly Pitcher will begin service early next year between Belford in Monmouth County and Manhattan.

Molly Pitcher fought in the Battle of Monmouth during the Revolutionary War, delivering water to soldiers in the 100-degree heat and later operating a cannon after the collapse of her husband on the battlefield.

“Molly Pitcher has captured the hearts of the people of New Jersey, especially Monmouth County, for 236 years. Her courage and resilience inspires us today to stand by our guns, to prevail, no matter the conditions. Our ferry crews capture that spirit, in some small measure, as they work every day to get our customers to work – and home again – in every type of weather,” said Mr. Imperatore.

“It’s great news for Monmouth County commuters that a new boat will soon be calling the Belford Ferry Terminal her home port,” said Freeholder DiMaso. “More than 2,000 people use the ferry services each work day, so having a new boat named in honor of one of our local patriots is an honor.”

Construction of the 400-passenger ferry began in December, 2013, and is well underway. An identical second ferry will be finished and begin service in the third quarter of 2015.

The Molly Pitcher was designed by Michael LeMole of LeMole Associates in Tuckahoe, with luxury interiors designed by Jeanine Bequette of Directions in Design. It will be powered by twin EPA “Tier 3” compliant engines, the cleanest-burning marine diesel engines currently available in America and exceeding all federal and state air quality standards.

The Molly Pitcher will be U.S. Coast Guard-licensed for 400 passengers, with seating for 350 passengers in fully climate-controlled cabins. There will be outside open deck space on both the lower and upper deck. The vessel will have a service speed of 28 knots, about 33 mph, making it among the fastest boats operating in New York-area waters.

The Molly Pitcher will be 109 feet long and 32 feet wide and draw just six feet, reducing the need for dredging. According to representatives from NY Waterway, amenities on the ferry include:

• Comfortable seating with arm rests;
• Restrooms on both the lower and upper deck;
• Refreshment area, serving coffee in the morning and cocktails on the way home;
• Flat-screen TV’s throughout;
• All LED lighting;
• WiFi.

The Belford Ferry Terminal, owned by Monmouth County and operated by NY Waterway, has free parking for 1,000 cars. A free van circulates through the parking lot to pick up passengers and bring them to the terminal. Ferries operate Monday through Friday, carrying more than 2,000 passengers per day, with stops at Wall Street’s Pier 11 on the East River, the World Financial Center on the Hudson River, Paulus Hook in Jersey City and Manhattan’s West 39th Street.

Commuters save, on average, up to two hours each day, the equivalent of a one-month annual vacation from commuting.

NY Waterway operates the largest privately-owned commuter ferry service in the U.S., carrying 30,000 passenger trips per day – 8 million trips per year – on 33 boats serving 21 routes between New Jersey and Manhattan, and between Rockland and Westchester counties, and between Orange and Dutchess counties.

The ferries provide seating in climate-controlled cabins, but many passengers elect to ride outdoors, to experience the views from the New Jersey coast approaching the New York City skyline.

Call 1-800-53-FERRY or visit www.nywaterway.com for more information.

Information is also available on the NY Waterway Facebook and Twitter.