Seastreak is exploring a ferry service between New York City and Atlantic City, with a trial potentially starting by Memorial Day 2027.
The Highlands-based ferry company is in preliminary talks with Atlantic City interests led by developer Tommy Carr, according to Seastreak President James D. Barker, who told NJ.com that a working group is meeting every couple of weeks.
“This isn’t a sure thing. We’re really just exploring the idea,” Barker said. “Obviously, groups there are very excited. The casinos and developers, everybody wants to have a ferry service.”
The proposed service could run from the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan to a marina in Atlantic City near the Golden Nugget. One option is Farley State Marina, which could accommodate the ferries with minor modifications to existing infrastructure, Barker said.
Passengers arriving at the marina would have access to the Golden Nugget and other casinos within a five- to 10-minute walk. A shuttle service to other casinos has also been discussed.
The journey is expected to take about two hours and 45 minutes, compared with an estimated three-hour drive from Manhattan to Atlantic City in traffic. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that fares could reach $145.
Seastreak is considering deploying its two largest and newest vessels, the 600-seat Commodore and Courageous, for the proposed route. The Commodore was the first of its class of 600-passenger ferries to enter service in 2018. The Courageous followed in December 2021 and was described at the time as the largest high-speed passenger catamaran operating in the US.
“We’re looking at what we can do to start it on a trial for next summer and working through that with some of the stakeholders in the community, various casino owners, and developers in the area to see how we could work together to possibly make that happen,” Barker said.
A meeting on the proposal was held on Sept. 21 with Atlantic City Mayor Marty Smalls, his cabinet, developers, Carr’s DEEM Enterprises and other stakeholders, according to WPG Talk Radio.
The proposed ferry route could also complement Carr’s potential development of Bader Field, the city’s former airfield. The service’s operating schedule has yet to be determined.
Stakeholders have discussed running ferries from Friday to Sunday or from Tuesday to Thursday. “We’re looking at all options and, and working with a group of stakeholders to figure out what would be the ideal scenario,” Barker said.
Atlantic City officials have expressed interest in the proposed service, Barker said, while emphasising that discussions remain at an early stage.
“It’s something that we’re working through,” he said. “It’s become public because there are a lot of people who are excited about it, who want this to happen, but we’re in very, very early stages.”