Form NCFO 2020 Form NCFO 2020 NCFO Survey

2020 National
Census of Ferry
Operators
[email protected]
U.S. Department of Transportation
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE 2020 CENSUS OF FERRY OPERATORS?
The geographic scope of the 2020 National Census of Ferry Operators includes the U.S. and its possessions (i.e., the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the remaining territories, commonwealths and other political units of the U. S.). This includes political units that are an unincorporated
territory of the U.S., maintain a Compact of Free Association with the U.S., or are a commonwealth associated with or in political union with the U.S. In addition to
ferry operators providing domestic service within the U.S. and its possessions, operators providing services from locations in the U.S. and its possessions to and from a
foreign country are also to be included.
WHO SHOULD COMPLETE THIS CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE
The specific types of ferry operations to be included within the scope of this census are those providing itinerant, fixed route, common carrier passenger and/or vehicle
roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ferry service, as well as railroad car float operations. More specifically, the following types of operations should complete the census
questionnaire:
•
•
•
•

Ferry or water taxi operations that have fixed routes between two or more different ports of call.
Ferry or water taxi operations that provide service on a fixed schedule or on demand within a fixed window of time.
Common Carriers (e.g. for-hire carriers) who serve the general public at reasonable rates and without discrimination.
Railroad car float operations that utilize a tug and barge combination having two to three parallel tracks, onto which rail cars are rolled for transit across a
body of water.

WHO SHOULD NOT COMPLETE THIS CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE
The following types of operations will not be included in the National Census of Ferry Operators:
•
•
•
•
•

Non-itinerant ferry operations (e.g., “cruise-to-nowhere” services).
Excursion services (e.g., whale watches, casino boats, day/dinner cruises, etc.).
Passenger only water taxi services not operating on a fixed route.
LoLo (Lift-on/Lift-off) freight/auto carrier services.
Long distance passenger only cruise ship services.

If you are not sure whether your operation should not be included in the census, please contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation
Statistics, at 1-800-853-1351 or email [email protected].

WHY THIS DATA IS BEING COLLECTED
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics is conducting a nationwide survey of ferry boat operators for the U.S. Department of Transportation. This census is authorized
by law [Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (P.L. 114-94, sec. 1112)] that requires BTS to maintain a database of existing ferry operations across the United
States. The Federal Highway Administration also uses the data collected on passengers, vehicles, and route miles to set the specific formula for allocating federal ferry
funds (23 USC 147(d)). Your company’s participation in this census is strictly voluntary. By law (5 United States Code 552(b)(4)), any confidential business information
we may collect will be kept confidential and will not be made public or shared outside of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under federal law (18 United States
Code 1905), employees and contractors working on this census are subject to penalties if they make public ANY information that could reveal confidential business
information. At the end of this census questionnaire, we ask that you identify any information that you consider confidential business information. Please note that
information which your business releases to the public on a routine basis or is in the public domain, generally, does not qualify as confidential business information.
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 states that no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this survey is 2139-0009 (Expires XX/XX/XXXX). If you have questions or comments about this survey,
please call 1-800-853-1351 or email [email protected] .
USES OF THE SURVEY DATA FOR FUNDING PURPOSES
Information provided on passengers, vehicles, and route miles will be used by the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) for funding allocation purposes as outlined by the funding formula described in 23 USC 147(d).
IMPORTANT RESPONDENT INFORMATION
•
•
•
•

•
•

All information reported should reflect only your calendar year 2019 ferry operations
Preprinted brochures, schedules, etc. may not be substituted for responses to the items on this census form
A combination of web-based and paper questionnaires are being utilized for the 2020 census
Unique operational information has been preprinted on each individual questionnaire for operators who have responded in recent years. If you had any ferry vessels,
terminals, and/or route segments in calendar year 2019 that are not preprinted on your questionnaire, please enter the information for those in the blank lines
provided. If any pre-printed information is no longer valid for your operation, please update or cross out.
Please attach additional sheets, if needed. You may photocopy the sheet provided here, or print blank copies from the National Census of Ferry Operators webpage:
https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/subject_areas/ncfo/ncfo_2019_questionnaire.html
If you need assistance, please call 1-800-853-1351 or email ferry @dot.gov

THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

1. Please ensure that the information below is complete and correct. If the information is not correct, please update it where necessary.
Company | Operator Name:

Operator ID Number

Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Company Website:
Company Telephone:
Primary Contact Name:
Primary Contact Email:
Primary Contact Phone:
Secondary Contact Name:
Secondary Contact Email:
Secondary Contact Phone:
Survey Respondent Name:
(Person representing the organization for this survey)
Is this operation under contract for any of the ferry routes that are
currently being serviced?

Yes

No

IF YES to the above, Name of Company contracted to operate:

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2. Are you completing this census on behalf of a federal, state, or local government agency?
Yes

Yes

No

No

3. Operational Trip Purpose(s)- Please Check All that Apply
Commuter Transit
Pleasure
Lifeline Service (Service to islands with no connectors to mainland other than by boat)
Roadway Connector
National Park Service Access
Emergency Service
Other

4. Please indicate the percentage of your operation's annual revenues for calendar year 2019 that came from each of the following sources.
(Percentages must add up to 100%)

%: Individually purchased tickets or fares (including fare cards)
%: Payments from private contracts (charters, concessions, etc.)
%: Payments from advertising contracts
%: Payments from contracts with public agencies
%: Public funding (grants, etc.): Federal
%: Public funding (grants, etc.): State
%: Public funding (grants, etc.): Local
%: Other funding

2 of 13

5. Please list each vessel in your fleet during calendar year 2019 (include unpowered barges and powered tugs used for ferry service).
For each vessel, please include the vessel number, whether or not it was in service in 2019, cargo type, and passenger (not including
crew) and vehicle carrying capacity. Vehicle capacity is the number of cars that each vessel can carry (assuming all cars are 20 feet
long).
Vessel Name

USCG Vessel Number

Vessel In-Service (for your operation)

Vessel Cargo Type (Check All that Apply)

1

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

2

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

3

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

4

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

5

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

6

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

7

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

8

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

9

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

10

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

11

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

12

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

13

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

14

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

15

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

16

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

17

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

18

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

19

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

20

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

21

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

22

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

23

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

24

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

25

YES

NO

Passenger

Vehicles

Freight

Passanger Capacity

Vehicle Capacity

3 of 13

6. For each vessel in your fleet during calendar year 2019, please indicate whether the vessel was publically or privately owned and/
or operated. If publicly owned or operated (in whole or in part), please list the name of the public owner and/or operator.

Vessel Name:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

IF OWNERSHIP or OPERATIONS are PUBLIC OR BOTH- Please provide additional information:
Public Ownership Name
Public Operator Name

Vessel Operations Status

Vessel Ownership Status
Private
Public
Both

Private

Public

Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private

Public

Both

Private

Public

Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

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7. For each vessel in your fleet during calendar year 2019, please list the fuel type and the typical fuel mileage (gallons per hour).
Vessel Name:

Fuel Type Used

IF OTHER- Please Specify

1

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

2

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

3

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

4

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

5

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

6

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

7

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

8

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

9

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

10

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

11

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

12

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

13

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

14

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

15

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

16

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

17

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

18

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

19

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

20

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

21

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

22

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

23

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

24

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

25

Diesel

Gasoline

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Electric

Barge (No Fuel)

Other

Fuel Mileage in Gallons/Hour

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8. For each vessel in your fleet during calendar year 2019, please denote if it is accessible to persons with disabilities, state the year the vessel
was built, the lifespan of the vessel, the number of nautical miles the vessel traveled in 2019, as well as the typical operating speed of the vessel.

Vessel Name:

Accessible to Persons with
Disabilities?

Year Built

Expected Lifespan (in Years)

Distance
Traveled in
2019

Operating Speed
(Knots)

1

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

2

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

3

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

4

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

5

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

6

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

7

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

8

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

9

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

10

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

11

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

12

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

13

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

14

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

15

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

16

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

17

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

18

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

19

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

20

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

21

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

22

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

23

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

24

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

25

YES

NO

Feet

Nautical Miles

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9. Please list each ferry terminal served by your operation in calendar year 2019. Include the name and location (city and state or province) of each ferry
terminal served and place a mark in the box below each mode of access that is within one block walking distance of the terminal (i.e., within 100 yards, or
about the length of a football field)
Terminal Name:

City

State

Transportation Modes of Transportation Access (Mark All Applicable)

Terminal In-Service (For Your Operations)

1

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

2

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

3

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

4

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

5

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

6

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

7

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

8

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

9

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

10

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

11

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

12

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

13

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

14

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

15

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

16

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

17

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

18

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

19

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

20

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

21

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

22

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

23

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

24

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

25

Parking

Local Bus

Intercity Bus

Local Rail

Intercity Rail

Bike Share

Yes

No

7 of 13

10. For each ferry terminal served by your fleet during calendar year 2019, please mark if the terminal was owned and operated either publically
or privately. If the "public" or "both" option was marked, please include the public owner and/or operator name.

Terminal Name:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Terminal
OwnershipStatus
Status
TerminalOwnership
Private
Public
Both

Terminal
Status
TerminalOperations
Operator Status
Private
Public
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both
Both

Private

Public

Both

Private

Public

Both

Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both

Private
Private
Private
Private

Public
Public
Public
Public

Both
Both
Both
Both

IF OWNERSHIP or OPERATIONS are PUBLIC OR BOTH- Please provide additional information:
Public Ownership Name
Public Operator Name

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11. Please list the individual route segments served by your ferry operation in the calendar year 2019. Individual route segments are defined by
the direct (one-way) travel between two ferry terminals without stops. A given ferry route may be made up of multiple segments. Please list each
segment separately, including the name of the departure and arrival terminals, the segment length, the segment travel time, the start and end
dates during which the individual route segment was served.

Route Origin

Route Length
(Nautical Miles)

Route Destination

Hour

Min

Sec

Number of Trips/Year

Year Round Operation

1

Yes

No

Yes

No

2

Yes

No

Yes

No

3

Yes

No

Yes

No

4

Yes

No

Yes

No

5

Yes

No

Yes

No

6

Yes

No

Yes

No

7

Yes

No

Yes

No

8

Yes

No

Yes

No

9

Yes

No

Yes

No

10

Yes

No

Yes

No

11

Yes

No

Yes

No

12

Yes

No

Yes

No

13

Yes

No

Yes

No

14

Yes

No

Yes

No

15

Yes

No

Yes

No

16

Yes

No

Yes

No

17

Yes

No

Yes

No

18

Yes

No

Yes

No

19

Yes

No

Yes

No

20

Yes

No

Yes

No

21

Yes

No

Yes

No

22

Yes

No

Yes

No

23

Yes

No

Yes

No

24

Yes

No

Yes

No

25

Yes

No

Yes

No

Season
START
Season END
IF NOPlease
indicate Operation’s
Season
(mm/dd)
(mm/dd)

9 of 13

12. For each route segment, please indicate whether the fares are regulated (set) by a public agency for calendar year 2019. If the fares are
regulated, please include the name of the agency.
Route Origin

Route Destination

Fares Regulated?

1

Yes

No

2

Yes

No

3

Yes

No

4

Yes

No

5

Yes

No

6

Yes

No

7

Yes

No

8

Yes

No

9

Yes

No

10

Yes

No

11

Yes

No

12

Yes

No

13

Yes

No

14

Yes

No

15

Yes

No

16

Yes

No

17

Yes

No

18

Yes

No

19

Yes

No

20

Yes

No

21

Yes

No

22

Yes

No

23

Yes

No

24

Yes

No

25

Yes

No

Regulating Agency (If YES )

10 of 13

13. For each route segment, please list the name of the vessel(s) operated to serve the segment in calendar year 2019.
Which Vessels are MOST used for this Route?
For each
Individual
please check-off the circle
Which
Vessels
Are UsedSegment,
for each Segment?
Route Origin

Route Destination

Vessel 1

Vessel 2

of the vessel most used by that segment as identified below.
Vessel 3

Vessel 4

Vessel 5

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

11 of 13

14. Please report the 2019 calendar year total and 2019 daily average of passenger and vehicle boardings for each individual route segment.
Report only unique segment boardings (i.e., not those already on board from a previous segment). Please include the total number of occupants
in each vehicle in your passenger counts to avoid underreporting.
Passenger Boardings
Route Origin

Route Destination

Average Daily Boardings

In Total Boardings

Vehicle Boardings
Average Daily Boardings

In Total Boardings

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

12 of 13

15. Please list the source of any public funding received in calendar year 2019. Indicate the type of agency from which the funding
was received (federal, state, or local), the name of the agency, and the funding program.
NO- Public Funding Sources Are Not Accepted
YES- This Operation Receives Public Funding Sources- If so, please indicate sources below…
Agency Type

Agency Name

Federal

State

Local

Federal

State

Local

Federal

State

Local

Federal

State

Local

Federal

State

Local

Program Name

16. Please indicate whether your operation's boarding information or any other information you provided is business-sensitive information.
(Please note: Information that you release to the public on a routine basis generally does not qualify as business-sensitive information.)
Boarding Information is NOT business-sensitive
Boarding information is business-sensitive
Other information is business-sensitive, please indicate specific information in this field

Please give a brief description as to the nature of the sensitivity

Please return this survey in the enclosed envelope or send to:
NCFO Project Manager, US Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, RTS-32, Room E32-316, Washington, D.C. 20590
Thank youfor completing the 2020 NCFO!
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