The MV John F. Kennedy is a historic ferry vessel that served as the last remaining Kennedy-class ferry operated by the Staten Island Ferry in New York City. Built by the Levingston Shipbuilding Company between 1963 and 1965 for the Department of Marine and Aviation, she was delivered on May 14, 1965. The ferry was named after the 35th President of the United States and entered service alongside her sister ships, the MV American Legion and the MV The Gov. Herbert H. Lehman. Constructed as a double-ended ferry, the John F. Kennedy features a robust steel hull designed for passenger service across the New York harbor. She was primarily valued for her reliability and open-air deck space, making her a favorite among passengers and crew. During her operational years, she was often used "as needed" on weekday schedules, especially when demand was high, and captains regarded her as the most dependable vessel in the fleet. In service until August 2021, the John F. Kennedy was replaced by the newer MV Michael H. Ollis, which influenced her design with features such as outdoor promenades and extended foredecks. After decommissioning, she was moored at St. George Terminal and later auctioned in early 2022. The vessel was sold for $280,100 to private owners—Paul Italia, Ron Castellano, and Saturday Night Live comedians Colin Jost and Pete Davidson—with plans to convert her into an entertainment venue. As of 2024, her renovation was still in planning, with the vessel towed to a Staten Island shipyard for restoration work. Throughout her history, the MV John F. Kennedy has held a significant place in New York City's maritime heritage, symbolizing the classic Staten Island Ferry experience while remaining a subject of interest for future adaptive reuse as an entertainment space.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.