High-Speed Boats Due For Gamblers

The Indian tribe that operates New England’s only casino said Friday it plans to build high-speed boats that would ferry gamblers from Boston and New York.

The Mashantucket Pequots would also sell the 330-passenger TriCat ferry boats - which are now made only in Great Britain - in North and South America, the Caribbean and Hawaii.

The Pequots said they expect to use the first boat they produce to carry gamblers from such places as New York and Boston to their Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard.

They also expect a strong sales market for the boats, said Tribal Chairman Richard A. Hayward. The boats will be built at a former steel plant about 10 miles from the Thames River.