Manatee County will launch its Gulf Islands Ferry servicing Bradenton and Anna Maria Island Jan. 12.
The service was scheduled to launch Dec. 8, then delayed to Jan. 5 and is now set for Jan. 12 — provided the weather cooperates, according to a Dec. 29 news release from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The BACVB is managing the service, with operations contracted to Clearwater-based Gulf Coast Water Taxi.
Plans call for two 50-foot open-deck catamarans, each able to carry 49 passengers, to loop from the Riverwalk in downtown Bradenton to docks on AMI.
The service is scheduled to run 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
Two pilings needed for the ferry service to dock at the Anna Maria City Pier — the first stop for the ferry route — were not installed as of Dec. 28.
Despite the pier deficiency, the Dec. 29 news release said the launch service would be between downtown Bradenton and the Anna Maria City Pier.
The release said a stop at the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach would be “added to the route system as soon as some minor enhancements are completed.”
Ticketing is available at gulfcoastwatertaxi.com.
People can learn more about the ferry service at bradentongulfisland.com/gulf-islands-ferry.
— Ryan Paice and Lisa Neff