Hornblower to Manage New Ferry Service in Virginia

Hornblower Marine Services and Virginia-based, MetroMarine Holdings have started a new passenger ferry service between Downtown Hampton and Downtown Norfolk. HarborLink - as the service is known - will be operated by Hornblower Marine Services. This service is privately financed by the group and supplemented by CMAQ federal funds. The contract for this new ferry service was awarded to the joint venture partnership in 1998 by the City of Hampton and Norfolk, following an RFP process. CMAQ federal funds were applied for by the City of Hampton and granted in earlier this year. A further two years of federal funding has also been granted. This new ferry service will be the beginning of a more regional service envisioned for this new partnership in the Hampton Roads area. MetroMarine Holdings was formed in 1992 and is a self-financed holding company. This company has devoted almost six years to laying the groundwork for fast ferry systems in Washington D.C. and Virginia. During that time period, MetroMarine Holdings has assisted in planning parts of the economic development for the regions, specifically where water transportation was involved. MetroMarine Holdings acquired M/V Flyer, a 90 ft. Westport monohull through a bareboat charter agreement to operate on this route. The now renamed, M/V Zephyr, has a capacity of 149 passengers and attains speeds of 20 knots. The vessel previously operated between Long Beach and Catalina Island and in Seattle. This first vessel is planned as an interim to meet the start of the Cities 1999 tourist season. A second vessel is planned for the year 2001, contingent on service validation. Vessel Specifications Tons: Gross 88, Net 70 Length, o.a.: 90 ft. Beam: 21 ft. Depth: 7 ft. Framing: Fiberglassed Wood Engines: (2) Detroit Diesel 12V92 TA Fuel: Diesel Speed: 20 Knots Total Fuel Capacity: 1,500 Gallons Number of Passengers: 149 Number of Crew: one Master, two Deckhands