96 INTERVIEW Navigating tradition and transition Lindsay James speaks with Fire Island Ferries’ Tim Mooney about family legacy, local roots and evolving opportunities on the waters of Long Island For nearly eight decades, Fire Island Ferries has been the lifeline connecting Long Island with the barrier island communities of Fire Island. Based in Bay Shore, New York, the operator transports over one million passengers annually across the shallow waters of the Great South Bay. “We operate 14 ferries, nine water taxis, a number of tugboats, and barges,” says Tim Mooney, president of the family-run business. “We run across seven nautical miles of open water. Our work is seasonal – 80 per cent of our traffic is condensed into just two months.” Fire Island is a sandbar stretching 50 kilometres long and only half a kilometre wide. “It’s a short, 25-minute to 30-minute crossing,” says Mooney. “Our boats are essentially like school buses on the water – they are 24-metre vessels carrying 400 people. We don’t offer food, drink or even bathrooms. We’re moving people efficiently, and that’s what we do best.” It’s this speed and efficiency that have underpinned the company’s longterm success, along with its tight-knit leadership. “We’re family-owned and operated, and that’s both a blessing and a curse,” says Mooney. “Two of our four children are in the business. Brendan is our chief financial officer and Morgan – also known as Captain Morgan – oversees operations, insurance, media and now leads our marine services division as chief executive officer.” According to Mooney, the involvement of the next generation brings valuable insight and energy. “Morgan has had a real impact on our risk management and safety protocols through her work with organisations like Interferry and the Passenger Vessel Association,” he says. “Brendan has an eye for growth. Thanks to him, we’ve launched a cocktail cruise business and expanded our marine services – all in response to a passenger market that’s reaching capacity.” Innovation aside, Fire Island Ferries remains deeply rooted in the local America carries commercial and private cargo across the Great South Bay from Bay Shore to nine communities on Fire Island: Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Dunewood, Atlantique, Ocean Beach, Seaview, Ocean Bay Park and Point O Woods
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