Ollis was a New Dorp resident killed in 2013 saving the life of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan
$85 million, state-of-the-art ferry to set sail later this year
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman, and Staten Island Borough President Jimmy Oddo today officially commissioned the Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, the first new Staten Island Ferry vessel added to the fleet since 2005. The $85 million, state-of-the-art ferry is named for Michael H. Ollis, a New Dorp resident who was killed in Afghanistan saving the life of a fellow soldier in 2013. The Mayor was joined at the ceremony by honored guests, including members of the Ollis family.
The ferry has completed harbor trials and passed U.S. Coast Guard inspections, and will serve passengers for the first time later this year.
“Staff Sergeant Ollis represented the best of New York City, and we’re proud to honor his legacy with a beautiful addition to the iconic Staten Island Ferry fleet,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With two more new ferries on the way, we’re transforming this system into the modern, reliable, safe fleet Staten Island deserves – and we’ll carry Michael’s name with us every day the boat is in our harbor.”
“The Staten Island Ferry is an iconic part of New York City, and the SSG Michael H. Ollis is a beautiful addition to the fleet,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “In addition to the Ollis family, we thank the wide array of state and federal agencies and elected officials whose support made this day possible. To New Yorkers beyond Staten Island, we remind you that there has never been a better time to catch a free sunset ride across New York harbor.”
“Michael Ollis was a kid from Staten Island who grew into a man, who became a soldier, and then a bonafide hero,” said Borough President James S. Oddo. “He is the son of Bob and Linda Ollis; he embodied their decency and integrity throughout his life and the roots of his heroism clearly can be traced back to how he was raised by his Mom and Dad. His remarkable story lives on as the Ollis Class of Staten Island Ferry boats will service generations of Staten Islanders, and Staten Islanders and New Yorkers can show their respect and appreciation by knowing his story. Mayor de Blasio made the right call in recognizing this remarkable young man, and I hope this commissioning creates a moment of unity for our community.”
“It is a privilege to help honor Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis at this commissioning of a new Ferry named in his honor,” said Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. “Jesus said ‘there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another.’ That is precisely what Sergeant Ollis did, when he shielded an injured fellow soldier in battle, and gave his own life instead. May his example inspire our fellow New Yorkers and all those who will use this vessel for years to come.”
The SSG Michael H. Ollis is the first of three new, 4,500-passenger ferries commissioned by the de Blasio administration since 2014, with support from funds provided by a range of federal agencies and elected officials, including U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The mayor first announced its name alongside Borough President Oddo and the Ollis family in 2016. The three new ferries will be larger, more modern, and safer in extreme weather than the existing fleet. They will feature popular design elements of past Staten Island Ferries, including phone-charging outlets and more comfortable seating, as well as an oval upper-deck promenade that will for the first time serve as an outdoor “walking track” for riders.
The second boat in the Ollis class, the Sandy Ground, honors one of the nation’s first Black settlements – located on Staten Island’s South Shore, which also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. With a name originally championed by Council Member Debi Rose, the Sandy Ground is expected to arrive in New York in December 2021 and begin regular passenger service in 2022. The third boat in the Ollis class is named for Dorothy Day, the legendary Catholic peace activist who lived on Staten Island. It will arrive in 2022.
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