New York Water Taxi

New York Water Taxi (NYWT) is a water taxi service based in New York City. It offers sightseeing, charter, and commuter services mainly to points along the East River and Hudson River. It is one of several private operators of ferries, sightseeing boats, and water taxis in the Port of New York and New Jersey. It is estimated that 100,000 people ride New York ferries every day.[2]

Not to be confused with NY Waterway, another ferry and water taxi service in New York City.
New York Water Taxi
New York Water Taxi in motion
LocaleNew York City
WaterwayEast River, Hudson River, Upper New York Bay
Transit typeWater taxi
OwnerCircleline 42
Began operationSeptember 25, 2002[1]
No. of vessels10
Daily ridershipApproximately 1,370
Websitenywatertaxi.com

NYWT was originally an affiliate company of The Durst Organization Inc., a partnership venture between Douglas Durst and Tom Fox. NYWT has been in existence since September 2002,[3] beginning with a fleet of six yellow vessels with black and white checks. Today, the fleet consists of 10 vessels.[4]

In January 2017, New York Cruise Lines purchased New York Water Taxi.[5]

History

New York Water Taxi began operation in September 2002. It started with a fleet of six yellow vessels with black and white checks. The company was born out of a vision of reclaiming New York Harbor for transportation and recreation.[6]

Vessels
The Ed Rogowsky on the East River near Brooklyn Heights
The Gene Flatow on the East River approaching the Brooklyn Bridge

New York Water Taxi operates a fleet of 10 vessels of two classes. The 67.1-foot (20.5 m) Ed Rogowsky, Gene Flatow, Marian S Heiskell, Sam Holmes, and Seymour B. Durst vessels were designed by Incat Crowther of Sydney, Australia and built from 2005 to 2008 by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, and are capable of carrying up to 149 passengers at a speed of 28 knots. The 53.3-foot (16.2 m) Curt Berger, John Keith, Michael Mann, Mickey Murphy, and Schuyler Meyer Jr. were designed by Nigel Gee of Southampton, England and were built from 2002 to 2003 by Robert E. Derecktor Connecticut Shipyards, LLC, and are capable of carrying up to 74 passengers at 24 knots.[7]

Services

The New York Water Taxi offers a variety of services, including a day pass that travels around Lower Manhattan and Dumbo, which includes admission to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The company also operated a shuttle service from Pier 11/Wall Street to the IKEA superstore and Fairway Market, both located in Red Hook, Brooklyn; this service was branded as the "Ikea Express Shuttle." The Ikea Shuttle is now operated on weekends only by NY Waterway. Another service, the Statue by Night cruise, travels along the East River and around New York Harbor. Seasonal cruises include Fall Foliage, Audubon Winter and Summer EcoCruises, and New Year’s Eve Family Cruises.

References
  1. "New York City Water Taxi Company Takes Off". Associated Press. October 21, 2002. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  2. Kaminer, Ariel (2010-06-05). "What New York Needs: More Water Taxis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  3. Don Sutherland (8 March 2005). "NY's New 'Taxi Driver'". Marine Link. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  4. "New York Water Taxi - Marine Transportation | Private Charters". New York Water Taxi. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  5. "Circle Line owner hops on New York Water Taxi". Marine Log. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  6. "The History of New York Water Taxi". New York Water Taxi. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  7. "Our Boats". New York Water Taxi. Archived from the original on 2010-07-21. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
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