Tampa Bay Ferry moves closer to launch with second vessel

The Tampa Bay Ferry moved a major step closer to reality Monday as the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority officially purchased the two vessels that will comprise the service’s permanent fleet.

PSTA announced it has finalized the purchase of the Bay Breeze and the Clipper, ending a nationwide search for vessels capable of supporting year-round passenger ferry service between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa.

The purchases mark one of the most significant milestones yet in the agency’s effort to transform the former seasonal Cross Bay Ferry into a permanent transportation option.

The vessels recently completed extensive inspections and sea trials before the purchases were finalized.

“Finding the right vessels was one of the biggest hurdles in launching this service,” said Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA, in a prepared statement. “Now that we’ve officially purchased the Bay Breeze and Clipper, we can focus on getting them ready to serve Tampa Bay passengers for years to come.”

The Bay Breeze, a former San Francisco ferry, can carry up to 250 passengers and was purchased in late 2025 for approximately $2.5 million. The Clipper, formerly known as the San Juan Clipper while operating near Seattle, can carry up to 149 passengers and was purchased for approximately $2 million. Both vessels require only minor upgrades before entering service.

Next month, the vessels will begin separate journeys to Florida aboard heavy-lift transport ships. The Bay Breeze will depart from San Francisco while the Clipper will leave Seattle. Both will travel through the Panama Canal before arriving at a shipyard in Fort Lauderdale.

Once there, the vessels will undergo refurbishment, painting and final upgrades before traveling under their own power to Tampa Bay for testing and service preparation.

PSTA is developing the Tampa Bay Ferry in partnership with Hubbard’s Marina, which will operate the service. The vessel purchases follow unanimous approval by the PSTA Board of Directors in April to acquire and renovate the boats using a $4.86 million federal ferry grant awarded specifically for the project.

The grant covers vessel acquisition, shipping, inspections, sea trials, refurbishment and the nationwide vessel search process. According to PSTA, the funding is federally designated for ferry development and cannot be redirected to other transportation projects.

“Hubbard’s Marina searched across the country to find vessels that would be the right fit for Tampa Bay, and we’re confident we’ve found them,” said Captain Mark Hubbard, president of Hubbard’s Marina in a prepared statement. “Now our focus turns to preparing the Bay Breeze and Clipper for their new role.”

When city and transit officials announced plans for the Tampa Bay Ferry earlier this year, they emphasized that a two-vessel fleet is essential to creating a reliable transit service.

Unlike the previous Cross Bay Ferry model, which relied on a single seasonal vessel, the new system will allow one ferry to continue operating while the other undergoes routine maintenance.

“This milestone reflects the Board’s commitment to expanding transportation choices throughout Tampa Bay,” said Tom Reid, vice chairperson of the PSTA Board of Directors and vice mayor of South Pasadena. “By investing in a permanent, two-vessel fleet, we’re building a more reliable service that will better connect our communities for years to come.”

No launch date has been announced. However, PSTA said it expects to have a clearer timeline once both vessels arrive in Florida and refurbishment work begins.

The ferry service is expected to connect downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa year-round, replacing the region’s previous seasonal ferry model with a permanent fleet owned locally rather than leased from outside operators.