Blount Boats to build double ended ferry for South Ferry

Blount Boats Warren, RI, shipyard

SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 — Blount Boats, Warren, RI, has signed a contract with South Ferry Company to construct a steel passenger/vehicle ferry for Shelter Island, NY.

The 101 ft x 40 ft double-ended ferry, to be named Southern Cross, will be built to carry a deck load of 260,000 pounds.

Main propulsion will be provided by two Caterpillar series C-18 Tier III & IMO II certified diesels, each rated at 470 hp at 1,800 rev/min. Twin Disc MG-516 remote mount, reverse gears will transmit power to four-bladed, nibral ice strengthened propellers through 4 in Aquamet 22 propeller shafts.

The Clark family, owners of South Ferry Company have been providing transportation between Shelter Island, NY, and North Haven,NY, on Long Island’s southern tip since the 1700’s. The Southern Cross will be a sistership to two other Blount built ferries designed by DeJong & Lebet for South Ferry, the Sunrise, Hull #311 delivered by the shipyard in 2002 and the Hull #323 delivered in 2009.

General arrangement, 101 ft passenger/vehicle ferry