Block Island ferry company seeking to purchase new boat

December 27, 2018 10:46 am

By News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — The company that runs the year-round ferry to Block Island says it is looking to purchase a boat that will carry twice as many passengers.

Interstate Navigation is seeking state permission to grow its own ferry operation with the new 500-passenger ship. The boat would cost $10.5 million and would replace the current 250-passenger ferry.

Ferry service to Block Island is tightly regulated by the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, which needs to sign off on Interstate’s plan to borrow $8.5 million for the new boat.

The division has scheduled a meeting for Thursday morning at its offices in Warwick.