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New York Harbor just got a little greener—and a lot quieter. On Tuesday, the Harbor Charger, the state’s first hybrid-electric public ferry, made its maiden voyage from Lower Manhattan to Governors Island, marking a milestone in the city’s push toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
Christened with a celebratory Champagne smash, the $33 million vessel promises to cut carbon emissions by roughly 600 tons a year, eventually upping that number to 1,400 tons once it transitions to fully electric operation in about two years. Until then, it will operate in a hybrid mode, relying on 122 lithium-ion batteries supplemented by a diesel backup. Think Prius now, Tesla later.
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The Harbor Charger has the same carrying capacity as its predecessor—the 69-year-old diesel-powered Lt. Samuel S. Coursen—with room for 1,200 passengers and 30 vehicles, but the similarities stop there. It boasts modern amenities like ADA-accessible lounges, restrooms on each deck and even air conditioning (a summer blessing). Its maneuverability is next-level too: the 465-ton vessel can spin 360 degrees in place, making docking a breeze.
Performance-wise, the Charger is no slouch. Cruising at 10 to 12 knots—up to 66-percent faster than the rest of the Governors Island fleet—it will shave minutes off the already quick hop across the harbor. And for passengers, the experience will be quieter, trading the guttural churn of diesel engines for a low electrical hum.
The name came courtesy of a citywide naming contest, which drew more than 800 submissions. (Sorry, Watts Up Dock and Ferry Impressive didn’t make the cut.) The winning entry came from Brooklyn resident David Kurnov, whose choice now emblazons the sleek white hull.
Built at the Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana and designed by Elliot Bay Design Group, the ferry took a two-week coastal cruise up the Eastern Seaboard this spring to reach its new home. The Harbor Charger’s arrival is part of a broader climate-forward vision for Governors Island, which is also set to host the $700 million New York Climate Exchange, a state-of-the-art research campus focused on sustainability.
For now, the Harbor Charger will share duties with the Coursen until the end of the year, when the elder vessel heads into retirement. Then, the island’s 1 million annual visitors can look forward to a cleaner, faster and breezier trip—proof that even a short ferry ride can make a big environmental splash.