b'MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWSEastern Shipbuilding Group Hosts Keel Ceremony for New FerryE astern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG)ery is scheduled for 2024. Both companies are-carriesoninthenamesofthecompanys hosted the keel authentication ceremo- PVA members.current vessels, the P.T. Barnum and Grand ny at its Allanton Shipyard in PanamaRepublic.Bothautoandpassengerferries City, Fla., in March for a new 302-foot autoThe Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboatwere constructed by ESG, in 1999 and 2003 and passenger ferry (ESG Hull 228) for theCompany was founded in 1883 with its firstrespectively, for McAllister Towing and Trans-Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Com- presidentthecircusproducerP.T.BarnumportationCo,ownersoftheBridgeport& pany. Steel cutting began in January and deliv- who lived in Bridgeport, Conn. The historyPort Jefferson Steamboat Company. The new ferrywilloperatebetweenBridgeportand Port Jefferson, N.Y., and is based on the two existing vessels. We have been doing business with McAllister for more than 30 years. We are very proud that we have earned their trust with a gold standard that repeat customers like Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company and McAllister expect from a shipyard. We look forward to adding another state-of-the-art auto and pas-PHOTO COURTESY OF EASTERN SHIPBUILDING GROUP, INC.senger ferry to their fleet, said ESG CEO and Chairman Joey DIsernia.The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company is pleased to renew our long-stand-ingrelationshipwithEasternShipbuilding Group in building a new state-of-the-art vehi-cle and passenger ferry for service across Long Island Sound. We look forward to the arrival of an exceptional high-quality vessel that will serve our customers, our crews and our compa-ny for many years to come, said Fred Hall, vice president and general manager of Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company.FOGHORN 34'