First Hybrid-Electric Ferry Will Set Sail In NYC This Week

NEW YORK CITY — The first hybrid-electric ferry is expected to set sail on Wednesday in New York City, officials said.

The ferry, the Harbor Charger, the first of its kind in the state, is poised to provide service to the public to and from Governor’s Island.

The new ferry's arrival coincides with the 20th anniversary of Governors Island being open to the public.

The Harbor Charger, built at a cost of $33 million, has the ability to travel at speeds up to 66 percent faster than current ferries, paving the way for passengers to reach Governors Island even quicker than before, officials told Patch.

“The Harbor Charger joining our fleet of passenger ferries is a momentous day for the Trust and for the thousands of visitors who enjoy what Governors Island has to offer every single day,” Clare Newman, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, said. “We are excited to provide a cleaner, greener mode of transportation to the Island for the nearly one million individuals that travel here each year. The Harbor Charger will carry passengers smoothly across the harbor, welcoming repeat visitors and first timers from around the world.”

The new ferry will operate from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and run along the existing Governors Island Ferry route.

The ferry has a capacity of up to 1,200 passengers and 30 vehicles for Island deliveries and services and boasts an increased cruising speed of 10–12 knots. It will replace a diesel powered ferry that was in operation.

“Twenty years ago, Governors Island opened to the public for the first time, creating a green, clean, sustainable space for New Yorkers to enjoy. Today, we are doubling down on that legacy with the launch of this first-of-its-kind electric ferry,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “From the hikers who will visit the Island’s trails to the scientists who will work at its world-class Climate Exchange, the Harbor Charger will carry New Yorkers and visitors alike into the future and deliver a safer, healthier city for all. Congratulations to the Trust and the crew on this maiden voyage."