Plans for a permanent ferry service between St. Petersburg and Tampa advanced Monday as the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority completed the purchase of the Bay Breeze and Clipper, the two vessels that will form the fleet for the future Tampa Bay Ferry service.
PSTA is developing the route with Hubbard’s Marina, which will operate the service. Agency officials say the two-vessel fleet will provide greater reliability than the previous Cross-Bay Ferry model by allowing one boat to remain in service while the other undergoes routine maintenance, a structure intended to support daily service across Tampa Bay.
The service is expected to use a downtown Tampa dock at the east end of the Tampa Convention Center, placing riders within walking distance of Harbour Island and the downtown core. PSTA has not yet announced a final dock location in St. Petersburg.
With the acquisition complete, the project now moves into its next phase as both vessels prepare for their trip to Florida. The Bay Breeze, which is currently in San Francisco, and the Clipper, which is based near Seattle, are scheduled to be loaded onto separate heavy-lift transport vessels next month and shipped through the Panama Canal to a shipyard in Fort Lauderdale.
Once there, the boats will undergo refurbishment, painting and mechanical upgrades before traveling under their own power to Tampa Bay. That work will be followed by final testing as PSTA moves closer to launching passenger service between the two cities.
“Finding the right vessels was one of the biggest hurdles in launching this service,” PSTA Chief Executive Officer Brad Miller said. “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.”
Hubbard’s Marina led the nationwide search for vessels and will oversee the refurbishment process as the project moves forward.
“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 Capt. Mark Hubbard, president of Hubbard’s Marina. “Now our focus turns to preparing the Bay Breeze and Clipper for their new role.”
The purchase follows a unanimous vote by the PSTA Board of Directors in April authorizing the acquisition and renovation of two vessels using a $4.86 million federal grant awarded for development of the ferry service. According to PSTA, the funding covers the vessel purchases, transportation to Florida, inspections, sea trials and refurbishment work required before the boats enter service.
“This milestone reflects the Board’s commitment to expanding transportation choices throughout Tampa Bay,” said Tom Reid, vice chair of the PSTA board 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.”
PSTA has not announced a launch date for the service. Agency officials said they expect to have a clearer timeline once both vessels arrive in Florida and refurbishment work begins. The Bay Breeze and Clipper are scheduled to start that journey next month before arriving at the Fort Lauderdale shipyard later this year.
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