290
February 2005

New York Water Taxi: Rapid Growth

The bright yellow and black-checkered color scheme that has become synonymous with taxis on the streets of New York has, in recent years, been carried onto the city’s water ways. Based in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York Water Taxis serves 12 locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City, New Jersey. The company’s fleet of six 74 passenger “taxis” has enjoyed such acceptance that rider-ship grew to 63,000 in May of 2004 from 17,500 in the corresponding month of 2003. Company innovations include the use of real time tracking for the public through www.nextbus.com.

Now the firm is building a significant expansion to meet the needs of the growing New York commuter and tour business. Two new vessels are under construction at Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Maine. At 72x27-feet, these are significantly larger vessels capable of carrying up to 149 passengers with inside seating for 99 passengers or up to 80 passengers on the high visibility upper deck. Designed by Incat of Australia the catamarans, will be powered by a pair of six-cylinder Cummins QSK19-M engines rated for 800 HP (597 kW) at 2100 RPM. Turning 900 m/m custom five-blade propellers through TwinDisc MGX-5145SC Quick Shift gears, the engines will drive the boats at 26 knots with 99 passengers on board.

The vessel’s hulls, with an eight-foot molded depth, feature low wake design putting out only 240 m/m wakes at 300 meters. In addition to the low, 72 decibel interior sound levels, exterior levels are kept down to only 76 decibels. To cope with New York winters, all windows are double-pane thermal glass with heated windows in the wheelhouse. The bow-loading vessels will have heated foredeck’s for added safety in icy conditions. The main deck and washroom will be wheelchair accessible. Each vessel will cost approximately $2.5 million with the first being delivered in April and the second in June of 2005.

For more information:

New York Water Taxi
Phone: 212 742 1969
or 508 676 8596
URL: www.nywatertaxi.com

Peter J. Duclos
President
Gladding-Hearn
One Riverside Ave
Box 300, Somerset, Maine 02726-0300
Phone: 508 676 8596
Fax: 508 672 1873
E-mail: peterd@gladding-hearn.com
URL: www.gladding-hearn.com

Mel Molgard
Marine Sales
Cummins Northeast Inc.
Cummins Northeast, Inc. - Headquarters
100 Allied Drive
Dedham, , MA 02026
Phone: 781 751 1216
Fax: (781) 329-4428
Mobile: 617 571 7129
E-mail: Mel.A.Molgard@cummins.com

Ben Mercus
International Catamaran Designs (Sydney) Pty. Ltd.
1 Mafeking Ave.,
Lane Cove, N.S.W. 2066
Australia
Phone: (+61 2) 9427 2822
Fax: (+61 2) 9427 7238
E-mail: incatdesigns@incatdesigns.com.au
URL: www.incatdesigns.com.au

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