Popular N.J. ferry terminal will have new service to N.Y.C. Here’s what it means.

The war between two New Jersey ferry companies took an unexpected twist when SeaStreak ferry announced it had lost its contract to rival New York Waterway, reversing a decision Monmouth County made in 2022.

SeaStreak made the announcement to commuters and the media on Tuesday that it lost the contract to provide service to New York City from the county-owned ferry terminal in the Belford section of Middletown.

The county Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at its Thursday meeting to award the contract to New York Waterway.

“I want to congratulate the new awardees of our ferry system, New Waterway,” Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone said. “I want to congratulate you for being part of the county team and (I’m) looking forward to continuing a relationship with all of us and the county, and more importantly the residents of Monmouth County. So congratulations.”

The county’s Qualified Purchasing Agent and the county evaluation committee recommended the board award the two-year contract to New York Waterway. That was based on how both companies scored on a four factor evaluation criteria, according to the agenda item.

While the scoring was unavailable, requests for proposals submitted in April showed New York Waterway proposed a base per passenger fee that was 25 cents lower than SeaStreak’s proposal.

In a statement Friday, Arnone said that “the evaluation committee … determined that the NY Waterway proposal would better serve our residents and commuters with more rides available at a lower cost.”

SeaStreak’s announcement said the company had been been informed by Monmouth County that New York Waterway has been selected as the operator of the Belford ferry service beginning in September.

“While Seastreak is disappointed with the outcome of the county’s solicitation, the company respects the county’s decision and appreciates the positive working relationship it has enjoyed with Monmouth County and its staff over the past several years,” the company said.

New York Waterway officials declined to comment on Tuesday.

The decision closes out a battle between the two ferry companies that started in 2022 when SeaSteak ousted New York Waterway from the contact it held for 20 years.

The fight went from the commissioners meeting room to the courts where on April 2, 2024, an appellate court panel ruled that Monmouth County had to rebid the contract it awarded to Seastreak.

That overturned a lower court decision that upheld Monmouth County’s June 21, 2022, award of the contract to SeaStreak, which New York Waterway appealed.

The appellate court ruling reversed a Nov. 2, 2022, decision by Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman, who had dismissed New York Waterway’s lawsuit against the county and Seastreak.

Seastreak began running commuter ferry service on Dec. 5, 2022. New York Waterway will take over operations on Sept. 8 under the new contract.

NY Waterway will honor valid tickets between Belford and Manhattan from SeaStreak operator on Sept. 8 only, according to a press release.

On weekdays, there will be six departures from Belford beginning at 5:15 a.m. There will be five evening departures from Manhattan and Paulus Hook back to Belford.

A full ferry schedule can be found at https://www.nywaterway.com/belfordferry.