Happy sails — starting this weekend, there will be free ferry service to Governors Island every Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day.
Increased demand by Brooklynites for rides to the flyspeck isle just off the coast of Brooklyn led to the bump in service, which was restored this year with occasional service from Fulton Ferry.
The news floated the boat of state Sen. Daniel Squadron.
“It was great to get ferry service from Brooklyn going again,” said Squadron (D–Brooklyn Heights). “Expanding service is even better, with more ferries on more days, making Governors Island more accessible for millions of Brooklynites.”
Ferries will run every 20 minutes from Fulton Ferry, at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, to the former Coast Guard base now open for bike-riding, picnicking and promenading.
The announcement about immediate service changes comes one week after officials from Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation heralded earmarks to pay for a water taxi dock at the foot of Atlantic Avenue on Pier 6 that would eventually be a hub for fare service to Governors Island.
The dock had been in the park’s plans, but was not scheduled for construction until the Port Authority and Councilman Bill DeBlasio (D–Park Slope) contributed a combined $1.4 million to foot the bill.
