NY Waterway is the largest privately owned ferry service in the nation, operating 34 vessels on 25 routes between New Jersey and New York City. It has played a key role in transportation after major disasters like 9/11, the 2003 blackout, and US Airways Flight 1549. To prepare, the company focuses on management culture, situational awareness, vessel and facility availability, staffing plans, technology, and extensive training with security agencies on emergency response scenarios.

1. NY Waterway
Regional Recovery After Natural
and Manmade Disasters
Ferry Transport Committee
Transportation Research Board
Midyear Conference and Meeting
August 15, 2012

2. Company Background
 Owned and operated by two separate entities
• Port Imperial Ferry Corp.
• BillyBey Ferry Company LLC
 Began operation in 1986 with one ferry between
Weehawken and NYC.
 Now nation’s largest privately owned commuter ferry
service carrying over 30,000 passengers daily.
 34 vessels operating over 25 different routes
 1800 plus transits per day.

3. September 11, 2001

4. August 14, 2003 Blackout

5. Flight 1549

6. Preparing and Training
 Company culture
• Management
 Situational awareness
 Vessel availability
 Facility availability
 Staffing Plans
 Technology

7. NY Waterway Vessels
Total vessels in service today - 34
Passenger capacity - 97 thru 495

8. NY Waterway Terminals
World Financial Center

9. NY Waterway Terminals
Hoboken NJ Transit

10. NY Waterway Terminals
Pier 79

11. NY Waterway Terminals
Port Imperial

12. Cooperative Arrangements
 US Air Marshalls Security Deployments
 Hudson County Rapid Deployment Task
Force
 Hudson County Sheriff SWAT Team
 NJ State Police Threat Deployments
 NYPD Harbor Unit

13. Cooperative Arrangements
 NYPD Emergency Service Unit
 NYPD Counter Terrorist Unit
 US Navy Counter Terrorism Team at Earle
 PANYNJ
 NJ TRANSIT Tactical Team

14. USCG Required Training
 Man Overboard
 Monthly Abandon Ship
 Fire Drills
 Security Drills Per USCG Approved
Security Plans
 Large Scale Exercise Drills

15. Training
 Bomb and IED Awareness Training
 Live Fire Bomb Training at Earle
Weapons Base
 NJ State Police Explosive Awareness
 NYPD Hostile Surveillance Detection
 PA Sponsored Behavioral Pattern
Recognition Class