Passing under Hell Gate Bridge

Seastreak Wall Street docked at the East 34th Street Ferry Terminal.

SeaStreak is a private ferry system that provides high-speed commuter service between points in Manhattan and the Raritan Bayshore in Monmouth County, New Jersey, as well as special event and sightseeing excursions in New York Harbor.

History[link]

SeaStreak began operation in 1986 as Express Navigation. In 1999 Sea Containers acquired Express Navigation for $5 million, The company was renamed SeaStreak. SeaStreak has been a subsidiary of New England Fast Ferry since 2008. The acquisition was a result of its former parent owner Sea Containers Ltd. filing for bankruptcy in 2006.^[1] SeaStreak has provided commuter ferry service between New Jersey and New York City since 1986.^[2][3]

Vessels[link]

SeaStreak operates a fleet of six diesel-powered double-hulled catamarans. The SeaStreak Highlands, SeaStreak Wall Street, SeaStreak New Jersey, and SeaStreak New York are all 141 foot vessels owned by SeaStreak; each has a capacity of 400 passengers and travels at a service speed of 38 knots (44 mph). The vessels were built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding of Somerset.^[4]

The Ocean State is a 65 foot vessel owned by New England Fast Ferry; it has a capacity of 149 passengers and can travel up to 34 knots (39 mph). Originally designed as a ferry for the Providence to Newport route, the Ocean State is used for service to baseball games. The vessel was built by Merrifield-Roberts of Bristol.^[5]

The Martha's Vineyard Express is a 95 foot vessel owned by New England Fast Ferry and is operated by SeaStreak from September through May; it has a capacity of 149 passengers and can travel up to 29 knots (33 mph). The vessel was built by Derecktor Shipyards of Mamaroneck and is the sister ship of New England Fast Ferry's Whaling City Express.^[6] It operates between New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard during the summer months.

Past vessels have included the SeaStreak Manhattan, the SeaStreak Brooklyn, and the SeaStreak Liberty, among a few others.

Routes[link]

SeaStreak routes connect the towns of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands in Monmouth County, New Jersey with Pier 11 at Wall Street and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing on the East River in Manhattan. During the morning rush hour the trip from the Raritan Bayshore to Manhattan takes approximately 40 minutes and there is limited shuttle service to Battery Park City Ferry Terminal.

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, service is also provided to the public beaches in Sandy Hook a few times each day. Service is also provided to Yankee Stadium for selected New York Yankees games and to Citi Field for New York Mets games on weekends. The company has long offered "special event cruises" such as sightseeing excursions, sunset cruises, and trips to Broadway matinees, college football games at West Point, the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and to see the fall foliage in the Hudson Valley.

On July 17, 2009, SeaStreak began providing weekend service between New York City and Martha's Vineyard. One ferry departs New York City on Friday afternoon and returns on Sunday night. The trip through Long Island Sound and along the shoreline of Rhode Island and Massachusetts takes a little over five hours. The service will continue through Labor Day weekend and was implemented following the success of a trial run held over the Fourth of July weekend.^[7] Before launching its service to Martha's Vineyard, SeaStreak had expressed an interest in providing a similar service on summer weekends to Sag Harbor in the Hamptons, but there were concerns over traffic and ferry service is a non-permitted use in the village code.^[8]

In Media[link]

The ferry is seen during a romantic moment passing underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in the movie Step Up 3D. It is seen still operating in the year 2021 in the movie Click.

References[link]

External links[link]

• SeaStreak Official site