Temporary Ferry Dock Installation – North Yacht Basin

Since 2016 the City has partnered to allow for waterborne transportation services provided between St. Petersburg and Tampa through the Cross Bay Ferry. Early seasons of the service used the North Yacht Basin as the location for dockage in St. Petersburg which was permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("USACOE") through various approved permit modifications. Later seasons of the service used permanent dockage provided at Port St. Pete while efforts were underway to receive permits by the USACOE for permanent dockage within the North Yacht Basin. The USACOE has now provided an approved permit and the City would be well-served to identify a temporary floating dock structure that could be used until the City is able to complete the design and construction of the permanent dockage.

The Cross Bay Ferry service is currently transitioning from turnkey contracted services led by Hillsborough County to contracted services known as the Tampa Bay Ferry led by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). Operations under PSTA could resume as early as Spring 2026.

To support the resumption of the Ferry, the City is seeking the services of a contractor to provide and install a temporary floating dock structure. The City is considering purchasing the dock and a 4-foot by 50-foot gangway secured to the existing seawall that is consistent with the attached City approved permit from the USACOE.

Additional, optional services that could be provided later include annual service and maintenance of the dock.

Through the former turnkey agreement and prior USACOE permit, a temporary floating dock had been installed to support the seasonal Cross Bay Ferry services. A 1,600 square foot floating dock accessible via a 300 square foot ramp secured to the seawall was installed and dismantled at the beginning and end of each ferry season beginning in 2016 and continuing to 2023 until service was moved to Port St. Pete.