Daily News from New York, New York • 331

BSI 3 Sunday, August 28, 1988 DAILY NEWS no ltduo tGEro IPH ffp liKiiiifiiwBiiHii 1 5 if yf njifi? X3 FERRY FROM PAGE ONE into a contract with developer Harry Grant to provide ferry service between Manhattan and his new development on the site of the old Bethlehem Steel works in Hoboken. Grant, who is planning to build a residential tower, office complex and luxury hotel at the location, is subsidizing part of the cost of the ferry service. Westlake is enthusiastic about ferry service in the region because of mounting traffic projections and commuter trains that are filled to capacity. "I look at New York Harbor and see an 80-lane highway with virtually no traffic," said Westlake. He added that, aside from New Jersey, his firm is looking at ferry possibilities north of the George Washington Bridge, including Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale in the Bronx.

Direct Line currently runs nine boats. Company officials are awaiting delivery of a 10th, and the possibility exists that two more boats will be purchased. Westlake said his boats are 110 feet long and have a passenger capacity of 150. They are designed for comfort and offer space and amenities not available on most commuter trains, much less buses. With many firms moving from New York to the revitalized Jersey waterfront, Westlake is positively beaming over the prospects for reverse commutation trends that would send city residents off to jobs on the New Jersey waterfront And what's the best way to get there? Ferry, of course.

Commuters from Queens and Brooklyn have embraced the ferry services offered by Manhattan Express. The firm runs boats from the Fulton Ferry Landing, across from lower Manhattan; 69th St. in Bay Ridge; Pier 10 Sheepshead Bay, and 116th St and Breezy Point in the Rock? ways. Alternatives for passengers from these areas are either express bus, subway or private automobile. About 2,500 passengers a day vote with their feet and say they'd rather sail than rail.

Passengers bound for LaGuardia Airport also benefit by using ferry service. Stephen Sloane Marine Corp. began operating boats from E. 35th St to the Marine Air Terminal on July 11. The service had been in operation from Pier 11, but the prospect of luring midtown Manhattan businessmen to the safe, comfortable, water-borne service led to the change.

The Water Shuttle, a high-speed service, is timed to connect with Pan Am's hourly New York-to-Washington and New York-to-Boston shuttle arrivals and departures. The boat leaves from Pier 11 on the half-hour, arrives at E. 35th St 15 minutes before the hour, and arrives at the Marine Air Terminal 30 minutes later. According to city officials and ferry firm executives, the future of ferry service in the area appears bright It doesn't look like there will be any quick reversal of the trends that have sent traffic volumes climbing while the roads and bridges continue to slip into disrepair. As one ferry executive succinctly put it "The roads are filled, and no one's building any more of them." STATEN ISLAND FERRY continues to be the granddaddy of the water commute, carrying thousands to Manhattan daily.

i By CHARLES SEATON Harry Knecht, the president of Tri-State, said he expects the jet boat to pull commuters from the roads. Of the trip from Nassau County, he said, "With this service, passengers will be able to plan on a trip of 35 minutes rather than an undetermined amount of time behind the wheels of their cars. The passengers will be able to work, relax, and have breakfast all in comfortable surroundings." Ardolino said that the technology behind the water jets allows for great speed while at the same time lessening the possibility of damage from waterbome debris because of Ardolino, a staunch supporter of moving people across the water instead of along the asphalt said his firm's new $4 million vessel is under construction in a New Orleans shipyard and is scheduled to be delivered next April. "We are using technology that is new to the United States but has been in use in Europe and Hong Kong for some time now," he explained. "Once the boat is in service, it will be the fastest operating commuter vessel in the country." The ship will be propelled by die-self-powered water jets, and the service will stress speed and comfort the way the vessel will sit in the water.

The hull of the craft sits five feet deep in the water when at rest; but once under way, a high-volume, low-pressure blower system takes over and raises the hull until only about 18 inches remains in the water. As a result there is far less water resistance which, in turn, accounts for a 40 saving in fuel cost and a substantial increase in speed capability for the 00-ton, 109-foot ship. "As a result of higher speeds and lower fuel-consumption figures, I honestly believe that we are looking at the next big breakthrough in water transportation," Ardolino said. Daily News Staff Writer A jet-propelled ship ripping across the waters and carrying 400 passengers between Long Island and lower Manhattan in about 35 minutes. Sounds like science fiction, doesn't it? It isn't The technology is available and the service will be offered beginning in the spring of next year be tween Five Towns and Manhattan.

The craft, shown above in an artist's rendering, will be capable of reaching speeds of 45 knots, according to Fred Ardolino, the vice president of Tri-State Marine Transport.