gooMayor Michael R. Bloomberg and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Iris Weinshall announced today that the name of the last of the three new vessels commissioned for the Staten Island Ferry service will be the Spirit of America.  The name was chosen as a result of a survey of Staten Island residents by The Staten Island Advance at the request of Mayor Bloomberg.  Staten Island residents submitted suggested names to the Advance, five names were chosen and Advance readers voted on their choice.

"The people of Staten Island have chosen a fitting name for their new ferry," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "Our goal in naming the vessel was to recognize the sacrifice and service of the people of Staten Island on September 11th, 2001.  The Spirit of America will serve as a reminder of their heroism.  I want to thank Brian Laline and the staff at The Staten Island Advance for managing this process and Tamara Combs of the St. George Civic Association for her invaluable assistance on this project."

"We look forward to providing the three new boats - the Guy V. Molinari, the Senator John J. Marchi and Spirit of America - to the commuters of Staten Island within the next year," said Commissioner Weinshall.  "Those of us who have boarded the Guy V. Molinari are very pleased with this magnificent Ferry, and the Senator John J. Marchi and Spirit of America carry the exact same characteristics as their sister ship."

"I am happy that the Mayor approached us and asked that we participate in this process," said Brian Laline, Editor of the Staten Island Advance.

Replacing the Kennedy Class Boats, which have been operational for nearly 40 years, the Guy V. Molinari, the John J. Marchi and the Spirit of America are $40 million vessels that will carry up to 4,500 passengers each and are being constructed by Manitowoc Marine Group in Marinette, Wisconsin.  Currently under construction, the Spirit of America is scheduled to become operational in 2005.  

The first of the vessels, the Guy V. Molinari, has arrived at the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island is scheduled to be launched in the next several months, pending U.S. Coast Guard approval.  The John J. Marchi is scheduled to arrive at the St. George terminal in Staten Island late this December.