Anna Maria Island Residents and Contractors Ride Free

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – By Friday morning, the Gulf Islands Ferry’s two forty-nine-foot catamarans were back in the water for the first time since Hurricanes Helen and Milton.

Over the next few weeks, the Bradenton Convention and Visitors Bureau said service will be limited only to people who live, work or have contractual obligations on Anna Maria Island. The free shuttle service will allow those displaced or those affected by the storm surge to safely reach the island as around-the-clock work continues to repair and replace the damage.

“We love being a part of this process and helping to recover from the hurricane,” said Capt. Nick Francis of Gulf Islands Ferry. Now the situation is different. “This will be a way to help the many whose vehicles were destroyed by the hurricane,” Francis added.

The service will be Thursday through Sunday, with boats departing from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier beginning at 7:30 a.m. and continuing hourly until 6:30 p.m. On Anna Maria Island, service begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m., weather permitting. To receive a free ride, eligible individuals must register their information prior to boarding. Officials added that the ferry will likely open to the public after the holidays. “We want this service to benefit our barrier islands community during this difficult time,” said Elliot Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Region Tourism Bureau.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit gulfislandsferry.com or Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau website.