San Francisco Bay Ferry

Area served	San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Lines	6
Fleet Size	15
Annual Ridership	3,000,000

The San Francisco Bay Ferry provides transbay ferry service between San Francisco and Alameda, Oakland, Vallejo/Mare Island, Richmond, and South San Francisco. It is operated by the Blue and Gold Fleet, and administered by Water Emergency Transportation Authority.

History

Ferry service has been provided across the San Francisco Bay for almost 170 years, by dozens of operators. Before the construction of the Bridge Railway, the Key System and Interurban Electric Railway provided transbay commuter service via train to a pier/mole in Oakland, then via ferry to the San Francisco Ferry Building. The opening of the Bridge Railway, resulted in the demise of the original ferry service. Vallejo ferry service was previously operated by Monticello Steamship Line in the 1900s.

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake disabled the San Francisco Bay Bridge, resulting in an unplanned start to Alameda/Oakland-San Francisco Ferry service. This emergency service became the basis of the San Francisco Bay Ferry network which remains today (since expanded to Vallejo, Richmond, and Seaplane Harbor).

The San Francisco Bay Ferry brand is rather recent.

Oakland/Alameda to San Francisco service was previously operated by Alameda/Oakland Ferry and Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry until consolidation into the San Francisco Bay Ferry name in 2012.

Vallejo service was initially started (or restarted, historically speaking) in 1986. With the introduction of Intintoli and Mare Island, the service was named Baylink.

Routes

San Francisco - East Bay routes are often referred to by the east bay destination.

All Day Routes

• Oakland & Alameda - Oakland, Main Street Alameda, and San Francisco Ferry Building. No Alameda service before 9 AM (use Harbor Bay).

• Vallejo - Vallejo to San Francisco Ferry Building, select trips from Vallejo to Mare Island

• Richmond - Richmond to San Francisco Ferry Building

Commute Only

• Harbor Bay - Harbor Bay (Bay Farm Island) to San Francisco Ferry Building. Limited midday service.

• Alameda Seaplane - Seaplane Lagoon Alameda to San Francisco Ferry Building during commute times.

• South San Francisco - Oakland, Alameda, to South San Francisco (Oyster Point) during commute times.

Short Hop Routes

• Alameda Short Hop - Alameda to Oakland

• Pier 41 Short Hop - Pier 41 Marine Terminal to San Francisco Ferry Building, weekends only.

Seasonal Sports Routes

• Ballpark Short Hop - SF - Oracle Park free short hop, during daytime before game

• Oakland - Ballpark - Direct evening game day service from Oakland Jack London Square to Oracle Park

• Main Street Alameda - Ballpark - Direct evening game day service from Alameda (Main Street) to Oracle Park

• Alameda/Oakland - Chase Center - Suspended. Alameda (Main Street) and Oakland (Jack London Sq) to Pier 48/Chase Center (SF) Warriors home games and select special events.

Operations

Observations of vessel assignments.

All Day Routes

• Oakland & Alameda - Central Bay Class, North Bay High Speed Class, Gemini Class, Peralta (infrequent), Bay Breeze (infrequent)

• Vallejo - North Bay High Speed Class, Central Bay Class, Intintoli, Mare Island

• Richmond - Central Bay Class, Gemini Class, Peralta

Commute Only

• Harbor Bay - Gemini Class, Bay Breeze

• Alameda Seaplane - Central Bay Class, Peralta

• South San Francisco - Gemini Class, Bay Breeze

Short Hop Routes

• Pier 41 Short Hop - Gemini Class

Seasonal Sports Routes

• Ballpark Short Hop - Gemini Class

• Oakland - Ballpark - Gemini Class

• Main Street Alameda - Ballpark - Gemini Class

• Alameda/Oakland - Chase Center - Gemini Class

Vessels

Four currently operating ferries (Mare Island, Intintoli, Peralta, and Bay Breeze) were operated previously by Alameda and Vallejo, and kept their previous names. New vessels built for WETA are named after celestial constellations.

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Retirement date	Builder	Class	Passenger capacity	Route(s) served	Notes
Peralta		2002	2027	Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	None	331	Oakland/Alameda, Alameda Seaplane, Richmond	Formerly operated by Alameda / Oakland Ferry Collided with a piling at Pier 41, injuring 10 persons, 10/12/2014
Bay Breeze		1994	2020	Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	None	250	As Needed	Formerly operated by Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry
Intintoli		1997	2023	Dakota Creek Industries	AMD 385A	349	Vallejo	Formerly operated by Baylink (Vallejo) Originally planned for 2022 retirement, pushed back to 2023 in expectation of a replacement Zero emissions electric power vessel.
Mare Island		1997	2022	Dakota Creek Industries	AMD 385A	330	Vallejo, Oakland/Alameda (as needed)	Formerly operated by Baylink (Vallejo)
Taurus		2008	2033	Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	Gemini Class	199	Alameda Seaplane, Harbor Bay, Ballpark	Delivered in red themed WETA livery
Scorpio		2008	2033	Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	Gemini Class	199	Harbor Bay, Alameda Seaplane, Pier 41 Short Hop
Pisces		2009	2034	Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	Gemini Class	225	Oakland/Alameda, Alameda Seaplane, South San Francisco	Delivered in red themed WETA livery In drydock in Portland, OR as of January 2022
Gemini		2008	2034	Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	Gemini Class	225	Richmond, South San Francisco	Delivered in red themed WETA livery Christened in San Francisco, 12/12/2008
Hydrus		April 2017	2042	Vigor	Central Bay Class	400	Richmond, Vallejo
Cetus		July 2017	2042	Vigor	Central Bay Class	400	Oakland/Alameda, Alameda Seaplane
Argo		June 2018	2043	Vigor	Central Bay Class	400	Oakland/Alameda, Alameda Seaplane, Richmond
Carina		November 2018	2043	Vigor	Central Bay Class	400	Oakland/Alameda, Alameda Seaplane
Pyxis		December 2018	2043	Dakota Creek Industries	North Bay / Richmond High Speed Class	445	Vallejo	Replacement for the Vallejo Dakota Creek Hull No. 64
Vela		August 2019	2044	Dakota Creek Industries	North Bay / Richmond High Speed Class	445	Vallejo, Oakland/Alameda
Lyra		December 2019	2044	Dakota Creek Industries	North Bay / Richmond High Speed Class	445	Vallejo/Mare Island	Delivered 2020 Planned for SF-Richmond route

Future vessels

Name	Class	Thumbnail	Year	Retirement date	Builder	Passenger capacity	Route(s) served	Notes
Dorado	Dorado Class		2021		Mavrik Marine	320		Delivery expected in late 2021 32-knot service speed. $15 million cost.
Delphinus	Dorado Class		2022		Mavrik Marine	320		32-knot service speed. $15 million cost. Hull under construction as of 10/21

Retired

Name	Thumbnail	Year	Retirement date	Builder	Class	Passenger capacity	Route(s) served	Notes
Harbor Bay Express II			2012		None			Sold to a private operator in Alabama. Replaced by Hydrus
Encinal		1985	2018	Nichols Brothers Boat Builders	None	395		Formerly operated by Alameda / Oakland Ferry Retired to comply with state emission standards. Replaced by Cetus Sold to a private operator in Alaska.
Vallejo		1994	2018	Gladding Hearn Shipbuilding	Incat	267	Vallejo	Formerly operated by Baylink (Vallejo), first vessel in the Baylink fleet Formerly named Jet Cat Express Rebuilt by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in 2002, renamed Vallejo Retired to comply with state emission standards. Sold to a private operator in Alaska.
Solano		2004	2019	Dakota Creek Industries	AMD 385C	320	Vallejo	Formerly operated by Baylink (Vallejo) Retired 2019 (scheduled 2029) due to CARB regulations. Sold to Kitsap Fast Ferry To be retrofitted and remain in service for Kitsap Fast Ferry until 2029

External links

• http://sanfranciscobayferry.com

References

• https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/about-our-fleet