Editing Salem, Massachusetts (section)

====The Salem Ferry====

The ''Nathaniel Bowditch'' is a {{convert|92|ft|adj=on}} high-speed [[catamaran]] that travels from Salem to Boston in 50 minutes from May to October and had its maiden voyage on June 22, 2006. The Salem Ferry is named after [[Nathaniel Bowditch]], who was from Salem and wrote the ''[[American Practical Navigator]]''.<ref name="The Salem Harbor Plan">{{cite web |url=http://www.salempartnership.org/wharf.htm |title=The Salem Harbor Plan |publisher=The Salem Partnership |date=2006-06-22 |access-date=2012-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303142727/http://www.salempartnership.org/wharf.htm |archive-date=2012-03-03  }}</ref> Ridership increased every year from 2006 to 2010, when it peaked with 89,000, but in 2011 service was cut back because of the dramatic rise in fuel prices.<ref name="Salemnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1095948107/Salem-ferry-cuts-back-to-three-days-a-week |title=Salem ferry cuts back to three days a week » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref><ref name="Salem may dump ferry operator">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1940327042/Salem-may-dump-ferry-operator |title=Salem may dump ferry operator|publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> The Salem Ferry is docked at the [[Derby Waterfront District]].<ref name="bostonharborcruises.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/salem-ferry/salem-ferry/|title=Salem Ferry|website=Boston Harbor Cruises|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-date=2018-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208194908/http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/salem-ferry/salem-ferry/}}</ref>

The ferry was purchased by the City of Salem with the use of grant money that covered 90 percent of the $2.1 million purchase price.<ref name="http">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1437249329/Salem-ferry-operator-Its-not-working-out |title=Salem ferry operator: 'It's not working out' » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> Because of the cutback in service during the 2011 season, Mayor [[Kim Driscoll]] is now seeking a new operator who can run the ferry seven days a week from May to October.<ref name="The Salem Ferry">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemferry.com/ |title=The Salem Ferry |publisher=The Salem Ferry |access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref>

For the 2012 season Boston Harbor Cruises took over the running of the Salem Ferry with seven-day service and a Monday to Friday 7 a.m. commuter ferry to Boston.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1585742337/Commuter-trip-is-in-ferry-bid |title=Commuter trip is in ferry bid » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref> The Salem Ferry will be running seven days a week for the 2012 season starting the first weekend in June and going through to Halloween.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x234167886/Salem-ferry-delayed |title=Salem ferry delayed » Local News » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref>

Boston Harbor Cruises, the contractor that operates the city's commuter ferry to Boston, runs their largest and fastest vessel between Salem and [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]] for the last two weekends in October. The company's high-speed ferry service to [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] concludes in October, freeing up its 600-passenger boat for service between Salem and Hingham. The ferry ride between Hingham and Salem takes one hour. With traffic, especially around Halloween, the drive between Salem and Hingham could be three hours or more.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x321547697/Ferry-to-run-between-Salem-and-South-Shore-for-Halloween/print |title=Ferry to run between Salem and South Shore for Halloween |publisher=Salemnews.com |date=2012-08-27 |access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/boats/|title=Ferry – Schedules & Maps|first=Massachusetts Bay Transportation|last=Authority|website=www.mbta.com}}</ref>

For the 2013 season, service was expected to start in the last week of May. The Salem City councilors approved a five-year contract with Boston Harbor Cruises to operate the city's commuter ferry from 2013 to 2017.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1503760810/Salem-ferry-to-get-five-year-contract|title=Salem ferry to get five-year contract|first=Bethany|last=Bray|newspaper=Salem News|date=4 March 2013 }}</ref> Also new for the 2013 season, Boston Harbor Cruises will offer a 20 percent discount to Salem residents for non-commuter tickets. The City of Salem has approved a seasonal restaurant with a liquor license at The Salem Ferry dock to be operated by Boston Harbor Cruises. The plan is to build a {{convert|600|sqft|adj=on}} building plus patio seating.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1169349316/Ferry-operator-looks-to-open-wharf-side-eatery|title=Ferry operator looks to open wharf-side eatery|first=Bethany|last=Bray|newspaper=Salem News|date=8 May 2013 }}</ref>

The latest data from 2015 point to 61,000 riders, with around 11,000 being commuters,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salemnews.com/gallery/photos-a-ride-on-the-salem-ferry/collection_bb796bf8-5d0d-11e6-9fe2-6f2d892ef9c3.html|title=PHOTOS: A ride on the Salem Ferry|website=Salem News|date=7 August 2016 }}</ref> according to Boston Harbor Cruises, which runs the Salem Ferry.<ref name="bostonharborcruises.com"/>