nws ferry rendering.jpg

A draft rendering of what the three new Staten Island Ferry boats, designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, will look like.

(Elliott Bay Design Group)

CITY HALL -- Mayor Bill de Blasio said Staten Islanders will get to decide what to name the next two new Staten Island Ferry boats.

"We're going to be talking to people on Staten Island to get a sense of what they think," de Blasio said when asked about potential ferry names at an unrelated event in Brooklyn on Tuesday. "I think that's the important thing we have to do."

The first of three new Staten Island Ferry boats will be named for the late Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis and the next boat class will also be designated for him.

Councilman Joseph Borelli and Minority Leader Steven Matteo want the city to name one of the other two vessels after fallen Det. Russel Timoshenko.

The Bay Terrace hero was shot on July 9, 2007, after pulling over a stolen vehicle in Brooklyn and died five days later. He was 23 years old and promoted to detective posthumously.

"A VERY GOOD IDEA'

De Blasio said naming a ferry for Timoshenko is "a very good idea" but wouldn't commit to anything just yet.

"As an idea, it's a very good idea because I think one of the best things we can do is salute those who gave their lives for us," he said. "I'm not going to weigh in for one idea or another yet, I'm going to say I think it's a very good idea and we will talk to people all over Staten Island before making a final decision."

The mayor's office and the Department of Transportation will ultimately make naming determinations on the remaining two ferries. This will be done with community input.

"As we did last time, we sought input from elected officials, community leaders, clergy, etc." de Blasio said. "We'll do the same thing again."

The Ollis class of boats will be the first added to the city's eight-ferry fleet in more than a decade, replacing the old Kennedy ship, the Andrew J. Barberi and the Samuel I. Newhouse.

The new 4,500-passenger vessels will be designed to operate more safely in extreme weather and will be modeled after the popular John F. Kennedy ferryboats, complete with outdoor promenades. All three will have the same design.

The first boat is expected to be delivered in 2019.