The M/V Race Point returned to service just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Between Thursday, May 27 and Monday, May 31, 2021 we carried 2096 passengers and 627 vehicles. This compares to 2782 passengers and 772 vehicles over the same period in 2019. These numbers demonstrate a return to some normalcy in traffic counts and are why the Fishers Island Ferry District Board of Commissioners voted to reduce ticket prices as of June 1, 2021.

After 35 years and well overdue, our biggest ferry went a mile up the river from our New London terminal to Thames Shipyard for a complete repower. The $1.3mm project, which included five engines, two shafts, propellers, and a new electrical system, was covered in part by a grant from Volkswagen. The grant is part of a nationwide program to replace aging, soot-emitting Diesel engines with cleaner-burning more efficient engines. With all the engines out of the boat, the Coast Guard performed extensive hull testing resulting in steel replacement. This propulsion system upgrade and refurbished hull will extend the Race Points service life considerably. We would like to thank our passengers, the Ferry staff, and Commissioners for their support and patience over the past seven months while the M/V Munnatawket ably carried the burden to and from our island in Race Point’s absence.

Fishers Island Ferry District
www.fiferry.com

 

Thank you to Geb Cook, Jon Haney and Jane Ahrens for the photo collection.