Putting ports centre stage

Activities include harbour tours in warmer weather and the winter schedule includes a big gala dinner- this year’s event honored Lucy Ambrosino, whose ‘outreach’ job at the office of the Port Authority puts her on the front lines of selling the port, sometimes to curious sightseers (she is a narrator on the WHC boat tours) and sometimes, in her ‘day job’ to potential customers.

The ferry business is also one that continues to see a growth spurt around the region – offering a different way of ‘selling’ the importance of the port. Indeed, March 1 is the date when replies are due for the New York City Economic Development Corporation Request for Proposals for continuation, and perhaps expansion, of the East River ferry service.

Presently, a service operated by the Billy Bey Ferry Company (which started in the wake of the New York Waterway reorganisation), brings morning commuters from ‘the boroughs’ – Brooklyn and Queens, into Manhattan, and vice versa in the evenings.

The ferry service has also opened up a burgeoning park project along the Brooklyn waterfront to visitors from the midtown and downtown business districts. According to the EDC: “Since its launch in June 2011, the East River Ferry has surpassed ridership expectations.” The agency adds that: “In the first 13 months of service, paid ridership has exceeded 1m passengers.”

The present deal, always designed as a pilot project, expires in June 2014; the EDC hopes to extend the timeline, under a new arrangement, for an additional five years.

Through these and other initiatives, the New York maritime community is increasingly gaining the ear of local politicians.

A previous WHC honoree – and important player in the world of commercial shipping – Clay Maitland, recently brought together a group of ‘influentials’ for a private meeting with Daniel Squadron, presently a State Senator from Brooklyn, who hopes to become Public Advocate (a top post, ranked just under the Mayor) in the city’s upcoming election later this year.

Mr Squadron explained that he saw many opportunities around the waterfront, some borne out of post-Hurricane Sandy fixes that will impact both business and ordinary citizens.

Traditional maritime people (such as the New Yorker) and non-traditional politicians (like Mr Squadron) may find considerable commonalities in New York, and the template will no doubt be applicable elsewhere.