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Port staff to seek water‑taxi operators; three Port landing sites proposed
Summary
Port staff presented plans to issue a request for qualifications for a water-taxi service, proposing three landing locations (Hyde Street/Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 1.5, and South Beach Harbor if control returns to the Port) and asking for narrowly defined proposals that avoid competing with existing ferry and excursion operators.
Peter Daly, Deputy Director of Maritime at the Port, presented an informational report on proposals to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) or request for information for water-taxi service on San Francisco’s waterfront. Daly reviewed prior efforts (an RFI in 2009 and a subsequent operating agreement that ended when a potential operator could not obtain financing) and said current conditions — improved tourism, the upcoming Exploratorium opening and the America’s Cup events — make this an appropriate time to seek operators.
Daly said the Port plans to offer three landing locations under the RFQ: Hyde Street Harbor/Fisherman’s Wharf; Pier 1.5 adjacent to the Port headquarters building; and, if control of South Beach Harbor returns to the Port, that marina as a third location. He emphasized staff intends to structure any agreement narrowly to create a point‑to‑point water‑taxi service and to avoid competition with existing ferry, excursion and sport‑fishing operators. “We are not going to allow any water taxi operations dock at port ferry facilities… We are not… going to allow them to do dining or entertainment on their boats. This would be clearly a water taxi service,” Daly said.
Public commenters representing current maritime operators and stakeholders encouraged a narrow RFQ. Taylor Safford, president of Blue & Gold Fleet, asked the Port to craft RFP/RFQ language tightly to protect existing tenants and infrastructure and to avoid enabling an operator to use a water-taxi service as a springboard into excursion business. Representatives of the harbor pilots and local maritime firms echoed the request for clear, narrowly drawn terms and suggested the RFQ include explicit controls on business models.
Daly told the Commission staff hopes to issue an RFQ by May to gauge commercial interest and will weigh proposers on experience, financial capability, environmental initiatives and access to vessels. If multiple commercially viable proposals are received, staff said it will judge respondents on those criteria and return to the Commission with a recommended 5‑year berthing agreement for consideration.
The Commission heard public comment and questions about whether the service would be scheduled or on‑call and whether it could extend beyond Port jurisdiction. Daly said staff will try to balance specificity against commercial viability and will work to protect existing port tenants.
