HRT Receives Two New Ferry Boats

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), Norfolk, VA, has added two new ferry boats to its Elizabeth River Ferry service fleet.

Elizabeth River Ferry VI will replace Elizabeth River Ferry III, which was auctioned off in November. Elizabeth River Ferry VII will cover the additional ridership brought on by several high-profile projects, including Norfolk’s Headwaters Casino, Norfolk Tides home games, and festivals in downtown Norfolk and Portsmouth.

“We are beyond excited about the arrival of these new ferry boats,” said William Harrell, HRT president and CEO. “We celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the Elizabeth River Ferry service this summer, and the arrival of these ferries is just icing on the cake. We look forward to these ferries providing enhanced service to both current and future customers.”

ERF VI and VII are being docked at Scott’s Creek Marina and the North Landing Ferry Dock, respectively, while they undergo quality control and Coast Guard testing. The vessels will begin carrying passengers when that work is complete, which is expected to take four-six weeks.

The ferries were built by St. John’s Ship Building, Inc., based out of Palatka, FL. The project cost a total of $6.4 million and was paid for using federal, state, and local resources.