Welcome to the
Long Island Sound High Speed Ferry
& Boating Safety Web Site
Sponsored by the High Speed Ferry Safety Task Force of LIS
Last updated 11/3/2007
Mission Statement:
The High Speed Ferry Safety Task Force of LIS, founded in 1998, is a forum to discuss and resolve any high speed ferry safety and environmental issues on Long Island Sound, should they arise; as well as to provide ferry and boating information.
High Speed Ferry Safety Information:
View our ferry safety brochure (Rev. Summer 2002). It has been distributed to a large number of yacht clubs, marinas and boating organizations.
Click here to download the brochure.
Adobe Acrobat
3.0 or better required . Click here for free download.
Brochure Information Update:
* The current brochure is dated Summer 2002.*
* Fox Navigation discontinued service, effective 11/1/02.*
Minutes of the October 22, 2007 Task Force meeting:
Minutes of the May 21, 2007 Task Force meeting:
Minutes of the November 13, 2006 Task Force meeting:
Minutes of the May 22, 2006 Task Force meeting:
Minutes of the October 20, 2005 Task Force meeting:
Minutes of the April 25, 2005 Task Force meeting:
Links to Ferry Operators:
High Speed
New London-Orient Point (Sea Jet I)
Traditional
Bridgeport Port Jefferson Ferry
Other Links:
Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound
Captain Clark's Fast Ferry Website
Background:
The High Speed Ferry Safety Task Force of Long Island Sound was formed in March 1998 to address the needs of recreational and commercial boaters on Long Island Sound as new high speed ferries begin operation.
The boating public is well represented on the Task Force by the US Power Squadrons, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound, and the Eastern Connecticut Sailing Association. High speed ferry operators are on the Task Force, along with the US Coast Guard, the Connecticut DEP and DOT, and the South Western Regional Planning Agency. SoundWaters (an educational and environmental organization), and the Fairfield County Commodores Association, (a group of fourteen yacht clubs), were founders of the Task Force.
The Task Force has implemented the distribution of up-to-date regatta and other LIS boating activity information using the weekly USCG Local Notice to Mariners, both printed and on the Internet. This information is very useful to ferry captains as they plan their daily runs. Ferry operating plans with timetables and other useful information are available to boaters on the Internet and by telephone (see Links to Ferry Operators Section above). Boaters should monitor VHF channel 13 for announcements from the ferries.
The Task Force is also reviewing safety and environmental questions that may stem from high speed ferry operations. For example, the Task Force has participated in a Passenger Ferry Tabletop Exercise sponsored by the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA), and we are an active member of the Long Island Sound Ferry Coalition.
The high speed ferry industry is well developed and has operated for a number of years in foreign countries as well as in several U. S. locations, such as San Francisco and Seattle. The ferries, which are water jet propelled, are maneuverable, and give off relatively little noise and emissions. They achieve speeds up to 50 knots and the fastest ferries are identified by a bright yellow strobe light. The HSF with its trained bridge crew, its ability to crash stop within two boat lengths, Advanced Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) and other state-of-the-art navigation aids, is a vessel dedicated to the skill and science of avoiding other vessels. High speed ferries operate under the same right-of-way rules that all boats must obey. Recreational boaters that may have forgotten these rules should relearn them in then interest of total boating safety.
Comments:
Please forward any constructive comments, observations or suggestions via e-mail to:
fastferryinfo@fastferryinfo.org
Thanks for visiting our Web site!