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Tag: Manatee Belle

Manatee Belle joins the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet 

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Gulf Islands Ferry service’s new and larger $3 million Manatee Belle ferry boat is now in service between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach.

Manatee County’s new 91-seat ferry boat made its passenger-carrying maiden voyage from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier in downtown Bradenton to the Bradenton Beach Pier in Bradenton Beach on the morning of Saturday, April 11. 

These passengers made the second trip to Bradenton Beach aboard the new Manatee Belle. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Shortly before 1 p.m., a second group of passengers arrived at the Riverwalk Pier and began boarding the Manatee Belle for its second official trip to Bradenton Beach. 

These folks were happy to be traveling aboard the new ferry boat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

At approximately 1:25 p.m., the Manatee Belle pulled out of its slip and passed under the “Green Bridge” as it headed toward Bradenton Beach Pier, traveling along the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway. 

The county did not announce the new boat’s Saturday morning entry into service and one of the afternoon passengers said they didn’t know when they purchased their tickets in advance that they’d be among the first to ride the new ferry boat. 

The Manatee Belle has an enclosed, heated and air-conditioned mid-section for passenger seating and an open-air seating section at the back of the boat. The new boat also features public restrooms 

The mid-section of the Manatee Belle is fully enclosed, with air-conditioning, heat and a public restroom. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Manatee Belle is much larger, heavier, wave-resistant and weather-resistant than the 49-passenger, open-air pontoon boats that comprised the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet when the county-contracted ferry service to the Anna Maria City Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier began in early 2024.

The Gulf Islands Ferry service currently operates as a two-point transportation system between downtown Bradenton and Bradenton Beach. The ferry service provides easy access to the dining, drinking and shopping establishments and businesses on and around Bridge Street. 

Ferry service to Anna Maria has been suspended since Hurricane Milton destroyed most of the City Pier walkway in October 2024. After the construction of the new pier walkway pier is completed and additional repairs and potential modifications are made to the buildings at the T-end of the pier, the pier is expected to fully reopen later this year. 

At some point after the City Pier is fully reopened, Manatee County officials expect to install a county-funded Gulf Islands Ferry landing alongside the City Pier. 

COUNTY ANNOUNCEMENT

On Monday, April 13, Manatee County issued a press release about the new boat joining the ferry fleet. 

“The new vessel adds 91 seats to the existing fleet and its increased size and enclosed, climate-controlled cabin design will improve dependability, delivering a comfortable and safe passenger experience. This debut further affirms Manatee County’s commitment to its residents and visitors with reliable, scenic and convenient alternate travel options,” the press release says.

The Manatee Belle headed toward the Green Bridge on its way to Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The addition of the Manatee Belle will help maintain consistent scheduling, enhance service reliability due to weather concerns and reduce the need for personal vehicles while travelling between the mainland and the seven miles of coastline on Anna Maria Island.

“Funded by the tourist development tax, the Gulf Islands Ferry now features three vessels, connecting downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island via the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway,” the press release says.

Depending on the day of the week and the weather, and subject to daily and seasonal change, the Gulf Islands Ferry service is currently operating Wednesday through Sunday.

According to the Gulf Islands Ferry website, first ferry boat of the day departs from Bradenton Riverwalk Pier in downtown Bradenton at 7:30 a.m. and the last trip of the day to Bradenton Beach departs at 7 p.m.

According to the website, the first ferry boat traveling to downtown Bradenton departs from the Bradenton Beach Pier at 9 a.m. and the last trip of the day to downtown Bradenton departs from the Bradenton Beach Pier at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased and the schedule can be viewed at the Gulf Islands Ferry website.

Manatee Belle joins Gulf Islands Ferry fleet

Manatee Belle joins Gulf Islands Ferry fleet

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News.

HOLMES BEACH – The new, larger and partially enclosed Gulf Islands Ferry boat, the Manatee Belle, has arrived and is expected begin service in January.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione announced the arrival of the new boat dur­ing the ferry update presentation he made to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council members on Dec. 15 and the similar update he provided the Holmes Beach mayor and commissioners on Dec. 16.

According to multiple sources, the county is pursuing the potential purchase of a boat slip or boat slips in the Waterline Marina in Holmes Beach. Before Falcione addressed the Holmes Beach Commission, City At­torney Erica Augello advised the mayor and commissioners not to specifically address those ongoing county efforts.

“There is not an active application with the city, but there have been pre-application meetings with the city with regard to a water taxi or ferry location in Holmes Beach. If there’s any questions, I would ask that they not be with relation specifically to the city of Holmes Beach because that is likely to come before you,” Augello said. Falcione, the mayor and the commissioners heeded her legal advice.

Falcione’s presentation

Operated by a contracted third party, the Gulf Islands Ferry service is part of the county’s public transit system that also includes the free countywide MCAT bus service and the Free Island Trolley bus service on Anna Maria Island.

Falcione’s presentation included a photo of the Manatee Belle. He told the Holmes Beach Commission the new boat will likely be put in service at some point in January.

He said the $3 million the county spent to purchase the new boat was 100% funded by the 6% tourist development tax levied on motel, resort and vacation rental stays on the Island and throughout Manatee County.

Falcione said the Manatee Belle can accommodate approximately 96 pas­sengers and the enclosed interior seating area includes air conditioning and heat. The Manatee Belle also has an open-air seating area at the stern of the boat.

Manatee Belle joins Gulf Islands Ferry fleet
The stern of the Manatee Belle includes an open-air passenger area. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Falcione said the ferry captains and crew members are currently conducting sea trials and the U.S. Coast Guard still has to sign off on its commercial use before it can be put in service.

The Manatee Belle is now docked at the Twin Dolphins marina in Bradenton, not far from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier in downtown Bradenton that serves as the mainland ferry stop. The Gulf Islands Ferry service currently consists of two smaller, open-air catamaran pontoon boats that travel between downtown Bradenton and the Bradenton Beach Pier on the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Manatee Belle will initially travel that same route between downtown Bradenton and the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Manatee Belle joins Gulf Islands Ferry fleet
The ferry system currently utilizes two pontoon catamarans that began service in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The ferry service that began at the Anna Maria City Pier in January 2024 was suspended later that year when back-to-back hurricanes destroyed most of the pier walkway. The walkway is now being rebuilt and county officials hope to install a new ferry landing alongside the Anna Maria City Pier that’s expected to fully reopen in the fall of 2026.

When the City Pier reopens, the 100,000-pound Manatee Belle is expected to make the primary trips between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria and the two 30,000-pound, 49-passenger pontoon boats will be used as “Island hoppers” that travel between the various Anna Maria Island ferry stops.

Falcione told Holmes Beach commis­sioners the county plans to soon add a ferry stop at the Coquina Boat Ramp, across the street from Coquina Beach at the south end of Bradenton Beach. He said the county also plans to eventually establish a ferry stop at the Palmetto Estuary in Palmetto, across the street from the Palmetto Marriott Resort and the county’s recently reno­vated convention center.

Falcione said the ferry service’s primary goal is to reduce traffic congestion near and on Anna Maria Island. He said in the second year of service, just under 50,000 passengers rode the ferries in 2025. He estimated that resulted in approximately 22,000 fewer vehicles traveling to and from the Island using Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road.

He said the weather-related suspension of service days decreased in 2025 and is expected to further decrease when the Manatee Belle becomes operational.

Falcione said the Manatee Belle will also help further the ongoing efforts to implement free ferry service for employees who work on the Island and commute from the mainland.

The ferry schedule can be viewed and tickets can be purchased at www.bradentongulfislands.com/gulf-islands-ferry.