John F. Kennedy approaching Manhattan in November 2015.
History
NameMV John F. Kennedy
NamesakeJohn F. Kennedy
OwnerPete Davidson, Colin Jost, Paul Italia, Ron Castellano
OperatorStaten Island Ferry/City of New York
Port of registryNew York
Ordered1963
BuilderLevingston Shipbuilding Company[1]
Yard number647
Launched1965
CompletedMay 14, 1965
Identification
StatusRetired from commercial service; to be converted into entertainment venue
General characteristics
Class and typeKennedy-class passenger ferry
Tonnage2109[1]
Length277 ft (84 m)[1]
Beam69 ft (21 m)[1]
Draft19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)[3]
Decks3
Installed power6,500 horsepower[1]
Propulsion4 GM-EMD 567C16 diesel engines[1]
Speed11.4 knots (21.1 km/h) (average)[2]
Capacity3,500 passengers, 40 cars[1]

The MV John F. Kennedy is the last remaining Kennedy-class ferry, formerly operated for the Staten Island Ferry carrying passengers between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island in New York City, New Yor, United States. Built by the Levingston Shipbuilding Company between 1963 and 1965 for the Department of Marine and Aviation, the John F. Kennedy was delivered May 14, 1965.[4]

History

John F. Kennedy was named for the 35th President of the United States. She entered service in 1965 alongside her two sister ships, the MV American Legion and the MV The Gov. Herbert H. Lehman. While American Legion was retired in 2006 as the newer Molinari-class ferries entered service, and The Gov. Herbert H. Lehman was decommissioned the following year,[1] John F. Kennedy remained in service as a favorite of both passengers and ferry operators, mainly running "as needed" on weekday schedules (when four of the six boats are needed for service). Captains considered her to be the most reliable vessel in the fleet,[5] and riders preferred her abundant open-air deck space.[6]

John F. Kennedy was retired from service in August 2021, to be replaced by the recently completed MV Michael H. Ollis, the lead ship of a new trio of ferries, collectively known as the Ollis-class.[7] The design of this new class is heavily influenced by John F. Kennedy, featuring her distinctive outdoor promenades and extended foredecks.[6]

Following her retirement, Kennedy was moored at St. George Terminal to await her fate. By January 16, 2022, New York City was attempting to sell the vessel at auction for $125,000, after an earlier attempt to sell the vessel at $250,000 garnered no bids.[8] The auction concluded on January 19, 2022, with the ferry sold "as is" and "where is" to Paul Italia, Ron Castellano and Staten Island natives Colin Jost and Pete Davidson[9] for a final selling price of $280,100.[10] The new owners planned on converting the ferry into an entertainment venue at the cost of $34 million as of 2024.[11] In April 2022, Kennedy was towed to a shipyard in New Brighton, Staten Island,[12][13] since her final location remained undecided.[14] Castellano said in early 2024 that he was continuing to revise the plans for Kennedy's renovation.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Staten Island Ferry Current Ferries". The Staten Island Ferry. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "JOHN F KENNEDY". FleetMon. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  3. ^ "Coast Guard Vessel Documentation". NOAA. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Tim Colton, "U.S. Shipbuilding History: Levingston Shipbuilding, Orange TX", http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/large/levingston.htm
  5. ^ Gartland, Michael (April 6, 2014). "SI Ferry captain warns: the ships are ticking time bombs". New York Post. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Barone, Vincent (July 25, 2015). "Next generation of ferries to be modeled after popular Kennedy class boats". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "Eastern low bidder for Staten Island Ferry contract". Marine Log. November 3, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  8. ^ Lovallo, Lauren (January 16, 2022). "Auction price for JFK Staten Island Ferry sliced in half: Historic boat can be yours for $125,000". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  9. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (January 21, 2022). "Why Pete Davidson and Colin Jost Just Bought a Staten Island Ferry: report". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  10. ^ "Auction #2960513 - Staten Island Ferry Iconic JFK double ended passenger & vehicle vessel". The Public Group. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  11. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/pete-davidson-colin-jost-staten-island-ferry-34m-traveling-hotel-restaurant-bar-1235859684/
  12. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (April 11, 2022). "'S.N.L.' Star Colin Jost Takes a Spin on Ferryboat He Bought With Pete Davidson". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Colin Jost takes spin with grandfather on Staten Island Ferry he bought with Pete Davidson, report says". Staten Island Advance. April 12, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "New York Islands Fight to Be Home Port of Pete Davidson, Colin Jost Ferry". NBC New York. April 10, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  15. ^ Phillips, Zoe G (March 25, 2024). "Pete Davidson and Colin Jost's Staten Island Ferry Will Become $34M Traveling Hotel, Restaurant and Bar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ^ Quinlan, Adriane (March 22, 2024). "Pete Davidson and Colin Jost's Ferry Is Very Much Happening". Curbed. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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