MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County hoped to launch its Gulf Island Ferry service on Dec. 8, but the anticipated launch date has been pushed back.
When speaking to The Sun on Dec. 6, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the ferry service was still awaiting final Coast Guard certification and the completion of ferry-related docking modifications and sign installations at the City Pier in Anna Maria and the public dinghy dock and floating day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
The Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton and one of the Coquina boat ramps in Bradenton Beach will also serve as ferry stops.
“As much as I wanted Dec. 8 to be a reality, we’re going to miss that date, but the light is bright at the end of the tunnel,” Falcione said. “The county operator’s made good progress, but there’s still some final details that aren’t done yet. We’re going to give the new start date when we know everything is ready.”
Falcione did not provide a new anticipated start date, but said he expects the new county-funded ferry service to begin after the arrival of the new year, if not sooner.
Falcione said the delay will also provide the ferry captains and crews with some extra training time on the local waters along the ferry route which many experienced boat captains have noted can be challenging when the wind blows and the water is choppy.
“This will give the operator some additional sea trial time for the training of their crews because the focus is to protect the safety and the welfare of the passengers. Safety is paramount,” Falcione said.
Docking improvements
In Anna Maria, two non-submerged composite pilings will be affixed to the City Pier’s existing boat landing area to accommodate ferry dockage.
In Bradenton Beach, safety modifications have been made to the public dinghy dock near the foot of the pier boardwalk. During a Dec. 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, City Attorney and CRA Liaison Ricinda Perry said Falcione advised her of the delay.
Perry said Duncan Seawall recently installed safety enhancements at the dinghy dock that will help prevent ferry passengers from accidentally falling off the dock. She also addressed the current use of the dinghy dock by live-aboard and visiting boaters in the unmanaged anchorage south of the pier.
“We do need to address the dinghies that are parking right out on the end of the dinghy area where the ferry will be coming in. This will interfere with the ferry service,” Perry said.
Perry said dinghy dockage will not be eliminated, but the dinghies will need to be docked closer to the shoreline to not interfere with ferry dockage.
Perry said the ferries will also be able to dock next to the police boat lift in the oversized slip at the floating day dock adjacent to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
“Both of those facilities will get used for the ferry system,” she said.
Perry thanked Public Works Department Director Tom Woodard and his team for clearing a small area and creating a pocket park and ferry waiting area between the pier boardwalk and the dinghy dock. A pavilion will be constructed in that area later as the ferry service enhancements continue.
When initiated, the Gulf Island Ferry service operated by the Gulf Coast Water Taxi company will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. After the initial service is established, the county and its contracted ferry operator will assess future service revisions based on ridership demand and rider feedback.
For updates and more information, please visit the Gulf Island Ferry website.
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