The WFSA's unique approach brings together ferry operators and owners, naval architects, and government officials, with subject matter experts and providers of new technology to spark innovative solutions to improve maritime safety and efficiency worldwide.
For further information, feel free to contact the conference organizers at ferrysafety@gmail.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Speakers and Sponsors Dinner
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
At the Waterfront Museum in Red Hook, Brooklyn
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Registration and Lunch
1:00 - 1:10 p.m. Opening
1:10 - 2:00 p.m. Excellent Vessels — Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cell. What, where, and how
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Emerging Issue: Sudden Hazardous Weather and High Waves
2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Coffee Break
2:45 - 3:30 p.m. Dilemma Issue: Safe Carriage of Battery Electric Vehicles on Ferries
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. The Blue Highway: Moving Urban Freight by Water
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Navigating the Uncertain Future
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Reception
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Music by the New Yellers. Feel free to move with the music
THURSDAY, May 7, 2026
Online portion
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. About the Design Competition
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. Award-winning student team design presentations
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Charles R. Cushing esthetic award presentations
10:30 - 11:45 a.m. Upcoming Design Issues: Battery Electric Vehicles on Vessels; High Waves; Blue Highway
11:45 - 12:00 p.m. Preview of next design competition
On-Water portion
1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Site visits by ferry
Speakers (CONFIRMED)
Capt. Gordon Loebl Vice President, NYCEDC, for NYCFerry Operations and Safety, KEYNOTE
Joseph Hudspeth Elliott Bay Design Group, MC of Conference
Buckley McAllister Chief Executive Officer, McAllister Towing, including Bridgeport - Port Jefferson Ferry
Ed Schwarz Siemens Marine Energy Solutions
Elias Van Sickle CEO SWITCH — Hydrogen fuel cell ferries coming to NYC
Yasuyoshi Tarao NK Japan — Safe Carriage BEV on Ferries Report
Capt. Nurur Rahman Hannur Maritime Consultants, Australia
Dr. Joe Sienkiewicz Meteorologist and Oceanographer
Alan Warren NY Waterway (Blue Highway)
Ilana Mayid-Dennis US Coastal Services (Blue Highway)
Matt Perricone Lehigh Maritime Corp (Blue Highway)
Tom Fox Tom Fox Associates. (Blue Highway)
Shari Corrigan Interferry, FerrySafety Committee
Aleik Nurwahyudy Maritime Safety Transportation Committee. Indonesia Government
Roberta Weisbrod Worldwide Ferry Safety Association