Billion Oyster Project and NYC Ferry Launch Floating Classroom, Opening New York Harbor to Thousands of Public School Students

New partnership transforms NYC Ferry vessels into working science classrooms, with a future goal of bringing more than 10,000 students onto New York Harbor each year.

NEW YORK, NY—Today, Billion Oyster Project, NYC Ferry, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and Hornblower Group announced a new partnership and the launch of the Floating Classroom, an ambitious new program that will turn the NYC Ferry vessels into interactive classrooms on New York Harbor and introduce thousands of students to marine science, the working waterfront, and careers on New York City’s waterways. As part of this new partnership, Billion Oyster Project will now serve as the Marine Restoration and Education Partner of NYC Ferry.

Announced at the DUMBO Ferry Dock in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the program will transform existing NYC Ferry vessels into science classrooms during off-peak weekday hours. Led by Billion Oyster Project educators, 90-minute voyages will introduce students to marine ecology, oyster restoration, climate resilience, and the people and careers that keep New York Harbor moving. The partnership aims to bring more than 10,000 public school students onto the Harbor annually.

For a city defined by its waterways, too many young New Yorkers have never had the chance to experience the Harbor firsthand. New York City is home to more than 1.1 million public school students, but getting a class onto the water has traditionally required resources that many schools simply do not have. By pairing NYC Ferry’s vessels and citywide network with Billion Oyster Project’s educators, the Floating Classroom makes the Harbor more accessible to students across New York City.

Each voyage will give students a new perspective on the city they call home. From its shipping lanes and shorelines to the marine habitats and restoration projects beneath the surface, New York Harbor will become a place where students can connect classroom learning to the natural systems and industries on New York City’s waterways.

The Floating Classroom builds on more than a decade of education at Billion Oyster Project. Through Harbor-focused curriculum, teacher training, and hands-on science programs, the organization has reached more than 66,000 students and engaged 1,793 teachers across a network of more than 109 partner schools. The new partnership will significantly expand the organization's ability to bring students on the water, an experience that has long been limited by vessel capacity.

“I've spent most of my life working on the water, and one of the things that still surprises me is how many New Yorkers have never had the chance to experience their own Harbor,” said Ann Fraioli, Director of Education at Billion Oyster Project. “You can teach a student about oysters, marine life, or water quality in a classroom, but there's something different about being out there and seeing it for yourself. You begin to understand that New York is part of an extraordinary and rich ecosystem. We want every young New Yorker to have the chance to make that discovery.”

The Floating Classroom is also a path to jobs on the water, building on NYC Ferry and Billion Oyster Project’s work to connect young New Yorkers to careers on the waterfront. Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a public high school on Governors Island and a Billion Oyster Project partner since the organization’s founding, trains students for maritime careers through its Vessel Operations program. More than 50 of its graduates now work at NYC Ferry as captains and deckhands. Under NYC Ferry’s internship program, Vessel Operations interns train on board alongside NYC Ferry crew.

The Floating Classroom will run on school days from Labor Day through Memorial Day, with up to two voyages per day and capacity for approximately 300 students and teachers daily. The program represents a significant step toward Billion Oyster Project's goal of engaging one million students by 2030.

“Economic development is about creating opportunity and making sure every New Yorker has a chance to access all that the City has to offer,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Anthony Shorris. “This partnership with Billion Oyster Project puts that idea into practice, turning NYC Ferry vessels into floating classrooms where thousands of our youngest New Yorkers can explore marine science, learn about our working waterfront, and discover the maritime careers that will help shape New York’s future.”

“Hornblower is proud to build on and grow its success and maritime leadership of connecting New York City students to the opportunities of our shared waterways as we launch the Floating Classroom across New York Harbor,” said Timothy O’Brien, SVP of Ferries and Concessions at Hornblower Group. “With this program and our ongoing community engagement, Hornblower connects classrooms from across the city to educational experiences alongside cool and reliable careers in maritime, ensuring the future of NYC Ferry and maritime transportation in New York is inclusive, rewarding, and reflective of the city we serve.”

Schools interested in participating can learn more at billionoysterproject.org/floating-classroom.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Billion Oyster Project
Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit restoring oyster reefs across New York Harbor and reconnecting New Yorkers with the water that defines their city. By pairing large-scale ecological restoration with place-based education, Billion Oyster Project is rebuilding the Harbor's ecological foundation while preparing the next generation to sustain it. With a goal to restore one billion oysters and engage one million students by 2030, Billion Oyster Project is working to prove that cities can restore their native ecosystems, and that restoration lasts when people are part of it. For more information, visit billionoysterproject.org.