Derecktor Delivers 85 ft. Freight Ferry

The Fire Island Ferries, Inc. took delivery of AMERICA, an 85 ft. Freight Boat built by Derecktor Shipyard Conn. LLC. This is the first boat to have been delivered by Derecktor’s Connecticut facility. AMERICA will be used between the Long Island operator’s home port of Bay Shore, on the South shore of Long Island, and various destinations on Fire Island. The new vessel shall be used primarily to ferry cargo needed by contractors working on Fire Island, and various commercial delivery vehicles and contractors. Designed by Nigel Gee & Associates, the ferry is a fairly traditional looking vessel with a singlechined hull. Hull and superstructure are all-aluminum alloy. The bow of the boat has an enclosed section for cargo storage and passengers. The boat has been designed to accommodate an 80,000-pound cement truck on its rear deck. Atop the cargo/passenger area there is a raised pilothouse. The cargo deck extends all the way back to the stern, where it has a hydraulic ramp. The vessel is equipped with a hydraulic deck mounted cargo crane. The ferry is powered by two Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, keel-cooled, each rated at 400 BHP mated to Twin Disc gears. Among their recent deliveries is the third of a series of new pilot boats as part of the fleet modernization effort of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association. The Sandy Hook Pilots were extremely pleased with the performance of the vessels delivered by Derecktor, especially their seaworthiness and ride comfort in rough seas. Derecktor Shipyards are expected to deliver the first of six small passenger ferries for the New York Water Taxi (NYWT). Derecktor Shipyards has recently obtained the contract for two 73 meter high- speed vehicle ferries for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Among the significant factors in the success of the vessels built by Derecktor are the very high standard of aluminum fabrication and machinery installations as well as the weight conscious approach to vessel construction.