Circle Line Ferries

The author of the previous story, Amy Langfield, writes

Thanks for the link to my story about the new ferry service at Statue of Liberty. Though I'm curious as to why you're advocating a boycott of them. Is it because they're non-union?

Many thanks,

Amy

George S., a longtime bay area IBU member and maritime worker responds:

Yes. They took over the Alcatraz ferry contracts using non union labor. They won the contract making promises they couldn't possible keep.

They promised a Solar/Sail powered ferry by 2008! Not happening.

They were supposed to build a gateway destination--not happening.

They were forced to pay their non-union employees prevailing wages--their health benefits and retirement are lacking.

The previous company that had the Alcatraz contract (Blue and Gold) asked the National Park service if they could raise the rates to take passengers to Alcatraz. They were always turned down by the NPS because they would be gouging the public. As soon as Hornblower was granted the contract they were able to raise their rates substantially (something rotten here).

From Newyorkology - January 10, 2008

On New Year's Day, the Provincetown II pulled to the Battery Park dock with plenty of time to make its 9 a.m. maiden voyage to the Statue of Liberty -- marking the end of Circle Line's half-century monopoly on the ferry service.

But not all went perfectly well on Day 1 for Hornblower Cruises, doing business here as Statue Cruises.

There was an exploding coffee pot, flooded bathrooms, and severe ticketing problems that scuttled the 9 a.m. departure, making the maiden voyage more than half an hour late.

Provincetown II docked at Liberty Island close to 10 a.m., as it was held in Manhattan awaiting the passengers with 9 a.m. reserved tickets who were stuck in the will-call line. As the potential passengers waited in the rain, it took five to 10 minutes to help each customer in the will-call line -- all people with printed confirmation numbers. (The regular lines barely moved either.)

News From Speaker Nancy Pelosi -
Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Pelosi: 'Park Service Should Have Considered Hornblower's Performance in San Francisco Before Awarding Company Another Major Contract' Washington, D.C.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following testimony today from Port of San Francisco Executive Director Monique Moyer on the National Park Service's procurement process for ferry service to Alcatraz Island. Hornblower Cruises, the Park Service's operator of ferry service to Alcatraz, has now been selected to provide ferry service to Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty:

”Today, the Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on the management of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Alcatraz Ferry service. Port of San Francisco Executive Director Monique Moyer testified concerning significant weaknesses in the procurement process by which the National Park Service selected Hornblower Cruises to provide service to Alcatraz, as well as subsequent performance problems.”

“Every year, more than 1.6 million people visit Alcatraz Island, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most recognized landmarks. Unfortunately, since being selected by the National Parks Service to operate the Alcatraz ferry, Hornblower Cruises has failed to deliver on basic contract requirements, including enhanced visitor facilities in the boarding area, lower-emission ferries, and a new hybrid-electric ferry maximizing the use of solar and wind energy.”

"While Hornblower has sought fare increases from ferry riders, it has unjustly replaced a unionized workforce with nonunion workers. The Department of Labor has ruled that the ferry workers should receive the same pay and benefits as they did under the previous contractor, but Hornblower has appealed the decision.”

“While Hornblower Cruises' contract obligations remain unfulfilled, the National Park Service has been unwilling to enforce contract deadlines and has approved increased fares for Hornblower. The result for families visiting Alcatraz Island has been increased costs and diminished quality of ferry service. Hornblower should focus its resources on fulfilling its contract obligations, not on replacing unionized employees and charging visitors higher fares. The National Park Service should have considered Hornblower's performance in San Francisco before awarding the company another major contract."

By Anthony Ramirez - New York Times, June 29, 2007

The National Park Service said yesterday that it planned to have another company replace the Circle Line, which has provided ferry service to the Statue of Liberty for more than half a century.

The park service, which operates Liberty Island and other national monuments, said it had selected Hornblower Yachts Inc., a California company that provides ferry service to Alcatraz Island, the former federal prison site in San Francisco Bay.

Terry MacRae, a co-founder and the chief executive officer of Hornblower, said by telephone yesterday, “The park service wanted an improved customer experience, they wanted more education and interpretive opportunities for the guests, enhanced protection of the environment” and expanded service to other federal locations, like the Jamaica Bay National Refuge.

Mr. MacRae said Hornblower might use its own boats, which are fitted with plasma television screens and elaborate multimedia presentations, as well as the Circle Line’s seven-boat fleet, which Hornblower must buy as a condition of the contract.