Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry adding 4th vessel to fleet in fall; planning enhanced service

The Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry will soon welcome a fourth vessel to its Long Island Sound fleet, its first addition in more than 20 years.

The Long Island, a 1,000-passenger vehicle ferry, will be christened by Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. at Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Florida, on Friday. It is expected to be in operation here by late fall, said Frederick Hall, vice president and manager of Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Co.

The boat, which can hold about 120 cars, is not intended to replace any of the ferry’s current vessels — the P.T. Barnum, Grand Republic and Park City — but to enhance service and to open new ventures, he said.

“It’s a wonderful thing for us, to give us more flexibility,” said Hall.

The Long Island could provide a three-vessel weekend service year-round, while one boat is stationed in case of emergencies. Another possibility is acting as a shuttle to accommodate travelers in between official ferry times.

Hall said another vessel creates opportunities for more day trips, noting that the service previously traveled to Albany for fall foliage trips.

The Long Island was designed by Gilbert Associates of Braintree, Massachusetts, based on the P.T. Barnum and Grand Republic, both also built by Eastern Shipbuilding The cost of the new ferry was not immediately available. 

The 300-foot P.T. Barnum, built in 1999, is named for the circus showman and a company co-founder, who lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It cost $14 million to build and can carry 120 cars. 

The 280-foot Park City, which uses Bridgeport’s nickname, was built in 1986 and holds about 80 vehicles, Hall said.

Steel cutting for the Long Island began in January 2023, according to a statement. Additions still need to be made after the christening, such as installing passenger seating, Hall said. When ready for service, it will make a three- to four-day trip around Key West to Long Island.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work to be done,” said Hall.

The Long Island is named after a boat in the fleet that ran between 1924 and 1936. The Grand Republic, named after a ferry that ran between 1983 and 2003, was built in 2003.

The announcement of the new vessel comes as ferry fares increase on Friday, according to the company's website. A one-way ferry ticket when traveling with a vehicle, depending on the vehicle size and peak times, ranges from $74 to $305, compared with its current $70 to $290. The ferry does not issue round-trip tickets for passengers traveling with a car. An adult ticket will cost $23 one way and $39 round-trip, compared with its $22 and $37 now.

“This decision was not made lightly but is necessary to accommodate the increasing costs of fuel, maintenance, and necessary upgrades to our vessels and terminals to ensure our customers' safety and comfort,” the service said in a statement on its website.