Tampa Bay Ferry prepares for launch with two vessels and $16.5 million grant for a third

The first of two vessels that will launch the new Tampa Bay Ferry service arrived in Pinellas County on Monday, bringing the return of ferry service between downtown St. Pete and Tampa another step closer to reality.

The arrival comes as the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has secured a $16.5 million federal grant to build a new 249-passenger vessel for the service, which is expected to launch later this year.

The 250-passenger Bay Breeze arrived at Tarpon Marine Services in Tarpon Springs on Monday and will now undergo inspections and refurbishment for passenger service.

A second vessel, the 149-passenger Bay Clipper, formerly known as the San Juan Clipper, is expected to arrive in Pinellas County within the next few weeks and will be refurbished at the same facility.

Both vessels will initially operate between the Vinoy Yacht Basin at 332 Beach Drive Northeast in downtown St. Pete and the Tampa Convention Center at 333 South Franklin Street in downtown Tampa.

The trip is expected to take approximately 45 to 50 minutes, with one-way fares targeted at $10, compared to $12 during the Cross Bay Ferry’s final season. Discounts are also planned for seniors and riders with disabilities.

Service is expected to launch later this year following several months of refurbishment and inspections. PSTA plans to operate the ferry seven days a week, although the operating schedule and frequency of trips will be finalized at a later date.

“Having the Bay Breeze arrive here in Pinellas County is a major milestone and brings us one step closer to launching a reliable, sustainable, and long-term ferry service across the Bay,” PSTA CEO Brad Miller said in a statement.

PSTA used a $4.8 million Federal Transit Administration grant, originally awarded in 2021, to purchase and refurbish the Bay Breeze and Bay Clipper. The vessels will undergo refurbishment, painting, and other upgrades before entering passenger service.

The Bay Breeze was purchased from San Francisco, while the Bay Clipper previously operated as the San Juan Clipper, a whale-watching vessel in Seattle.