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The Staten Island party ferry is trying to make waves.
The most extensive plans yet for SNL stars Pete Davidson and Colin Jost’s stalled Staten Island Ferry project were unveiled Tuesday evening as a roving party arena and comedy oasis.
Nearly four years after buying the ship for a cool $280,100 and racking up thousands in legal and docking fees, the passion project seems to be slowly inching closer to reality.
“As crazy as it may seem, we actually really thought it out before we did buy this ferry,” Paul Italia, owner of The Strand Group and co-owner of the ferry, said during a presentation before the island’s Community Board 1.
In addition to the numerous bars and restaurants touted by the comics from their 2021 splurge, the ferry will also boast a theater on its former parking platform, would be accessible 24/7 and would be tugged back and forth between a Staten Island port and Manhattan.
“We have now purchased it for the repurposing of it and to be able to bring it back to the public and to the people,” said Italia.
“A couple of the things that we’re working on with the existing plans that we’ve been formulating and putting together is having entertainment venues aboard the ship open to the public, ticketed events, as well as community spaces and different exhibits to be able to show the parts of the boats that maybe at some point were interesting to people but not readily available for access.“
The John F. Kennedy Ferry transformation from a commuter boat to a party arena has been slow and bogged down by legal disputes, which Italia downplayed to committee members as he sought to earn their approval.
The community board only has an advisory role, but could influence whether the city later lets the comics set sail on their venture.
Interestingly, the presentation included numerous images and renderings of ferries that were not the JFK vessel they own — including one of a poorly photoshopped four-decker boat.
The trio is hoping to dock their roving club at Pier 1 in St. George for six months every year as part of state regulations, Italia said.
The second berth will be at a yet-to-be-decided Manhattan arena, but Italia emphasized that the boat would move freely between the two spots as desired — but wouldn’t be using its own propellers.
The six-story craft, renamed the “Titanic 2,” will only move by tugboat — much like how it was towed around on Marathon day covered entirely in a pink Nike ad — but Italia did not explain why.
Requests for comment to The Stand Group were not immediately returned.
The ferry is expected to have two venues hosting “world-class entertainment,” including one massive theater on what was once a vehicle parking area on the deck that will be an oasis for comedy events.
Each of the six decks will be littered with bars and food hubs, Italia said, as well as a museum and tour group dedicated to the 56-year history of the JFK.
“This is something that’s very important to my partners, as they grew up on Staten Island and have very fond memories of taking the Staten Island Ferry on a day-to-day basis as they started to come into Manhattan for school and work and everything else. It does have a special place in their hearts,” Italia said of Jost and Davidson, whose 2025 thriller “Screamboat” was filmed entirely on the boat.
The boat will also be open to the public on a “pretty much consistent basis,” including for fishermen to cast their lines early in the mornings.
Italia promised that the trash, noise and traffic would not be an issue for the quiet corner of the island, but numerous residents could not be convinced.
Several raised concerns that there is no parking lot near Pier 1 and that the ferry — the size of a building — would usher in loads of tourists each night.
“I would move, I would really have to move if this came to pass!” railed Beth, a resident but non-community board member.
“If you use three nights, what you’re saying basically is you’re going to choose three nights that we will not be sleeping,” another resident said when Itla suggested limiting late-night operations.
Several committee members expressed support for the project as a source of income for the neighborhood and for the historical restoration of the JFK.
During the presentation, Italia downplayed the legal drama surrounding the Titanic 2 as “rumors” drummed up by the media, but admitted there was a dispute between the comedians and the law firm that helped them secure the boat.
Nicoletti, Hornig Namazi Eckert & Sheehan sued the pals this fall for the $13,500 fee.
“There is a dispute we had with vendor that we employed early on that was taking advantage of us and was paid. Our storage fees are paid up,” Italia said.
It’s not clear when the Titanic 2 could be up and running, but Italia estimated at least another year.
The plans will need to be brought back for a vote by the committee and the full community board, though their approval would just be advisory. They would then be brought to the city for final approval before operations can begin.
The plans will also need to go through the same process with the Manhattan board once the second location is decided.
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