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Post by SS San Mateo on Nov 1, 2013 8:16:11 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Nov 14, 2013 14:20:56 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager 
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Nov 14, 2013 23:06:04 GMT -8
The MOLINARI is one of a newer three-vessel class of ferries on the Staten Island run. She has the same length as the EVERGREEN STATE here on Puget Sound. |
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Post by redbirdr33 on Jan 3, 2014 14:04:54 GMT -8
Update on "THE GOV.HERBERT H LEHMAN"
The former Staten Island ferryboat THE GOV.HERBERT H LEHMAN made her last trip on June 30, 2007 on the 10:30 PM run from Whitehall Street to Saint George.
She was subsequently acquired by a private investor who planned to convert her into a floating restaurant. She was moored at shipyard on north side Staten Island in the Kill Van Kull near the Bayonne Bridge where here name boards and other identifying features were removed. Sometime after January 2011 she was moved to the Steelway's Shipyard on the Hudson River in Newburgh, New York. At this location she was moored parallel to the river and it is unclear if any further conversion work was done while she was at this location. On or about March 5, 2012 she developed a leak on the river side and listed about thirty degrees, inundating the passenger cabin . She remained in this condition for three or four months until a crane was brought in. The leak was patched and the boat righted , unfortunately some damage was done the canopy covering the outdoor seating area on the third deck. The damage caused by the submersion possibly lead to a decision to scrap the vessel and she was moved to the south side of the dock and scrapping was underway by August, 2012. I last observed the LEHMAN in September , 2013 while passing by on the M.V. PRIDE OF THE HUDSON. All of her upper decks have been and only the main deck remains.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Jan 4, 2014 2:52:04 GMT -8
Update on "THE GOV.HERBERT H LEHMAN"
The former Staten Island ferryboat THE GOV.HERBERT H LEHMAN made her last trip on June 30, 2007 on the 10:30 PM run from Whitehall Street to Saint George. She was subsequently acquired by a private investor who planned to convert her into a floating restaurant. She was moored at shipyard on north side Staten Island in the Kill Van Kull near the Bayonne Bridge where here name boards and other identifying features were removed. Sometime after January 2011 she was moved to the Steelway's Shipyard on the Hudson River in Newburgh, New York. At this location she was moored parallel to the river and it is unclear if any further conversion work was done while she was at this location. On or about March 5, 2012 she developed a leak on the river side and listed about thirty degrees, inundating the passenger cabin . She remained in this condition for three or four months until a crane was brought in. The leak was patched and the boat righted , unfortunately some damage was done the canopy covering the outdoor seating area on the third deck. The damage caused by the submersion possibly lead to a decision to scrap the vessel and she was moved to the south side of the dock and scrapping was underway by August, 2012. I last observed the LEHMAN in September , 2013 while passing by on the M.V. PRIDE OF THE HUDSON. All of her upper decks have been and only the main deck remains. Larry, RedbirdR33 Very sad to learn this. This ferry was a nice vessel to ride. Very lucky to have taken a ride or two aboard the LEHMAN back in the 1990s.  09-19-2013, Google Earth shows what remained of the GHHL at that date. As you can see, this ferry had three lanes for vehicles during the days when they were carried. The Main Deck had passenger lounges at each side of the vehicle lanes. The Saloon Deck was for passengers and had landings for foot passenger planks at each end. A snack bar was located on this deck. The Promenade Deck had side covered open decks as well as an interior lounge. The bridges were at each end on this deck. RIP, LEHMAN. This good ferry lives on in our memories. |
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 4, 2014 13:28:00 GMT -8
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Post by redbirdr33 on Jan 10, 2014 14:52:04 GMT -8
As this is the first major posting that I have made I would ask the forbearance of the good people here for my style of narrative. I'm sure that a good deal of what I include in my post is known to many of the "Old Salts" here. However there are always some that are new to these matters and are unfamiliar with information that many of use may take for granted. That and the fact that I like to post a concise and cohesive narrative sometime leads me to be over wordy or a little pedantic. I hope that the following is of interest and i will do my best to answer any questions.
UPDATE OF THE STATEN ISLAND AND HART ISLAND FERRIES
as of January 2014.
The New York City Department of Transportation operates two traditional double- ended ferry routes . The more well known of these is the Staten Island Ferry which operates across Upper New York Bay between the Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan and the Saint George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. The second and lesser known service is the Hart Island Ferry which operates between City Island and Hart Island across a stretch of water known as the Hart Island Roads.
The municipal fleet consists of nine ferryboats, eight of which are assigned to the Staten Island run , one for the Hart Island service plus a utility boat known as the AMERICAN LEGION (III).
Part 1 Staten Island Ferry
A) The Fleet
The eight boats on the Staten Island run are divided into four classes
1) KENNEDY CLASS : This class consisted of three vessels; JOHN F KENNEDY, AMERICAN LEGION (II) and THE GOV HERBERT H LEHMAN. They were built at the Livingston Shipyard in Orange, Texas in 1965. They are three deck diesel boats. They displace 2109 tons, are 277 feet long and 69 feet wide. They are licensed for 3,055 passengers and 13 crew and have three vehicle gangways which can hold 45 cars. The AMERICAN LEGION was retired in 2006 and sold to Sea Solutions, Inc. of Virginia for scrapping. The LEHMAN made her last run on June 30, 2007 and was cannibalized for spare parts to keep the JFK running for several more years . She is currently in the process of being scrapped at the Steelway's Yard in Newburgh, New York. As of August 2013 all of her upper works had been removed and only the main deck remained afloat.
The JOHN F KENNEDY continues is regular service. She is now (2014) in her 49th year and holds the house record for longevity . The previous record holder was the WESTFIELD (II) which ran from 1862 to 1906.
2) BARBERI CLASS: This class consists of two vessels; ANDREW J BARBERI and SAMUEL I NEWHOUSE. They were built at the Equitable Shipyard in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1981 and 1982 respectively. They displace 3335 gross tons, are 310 feet long and 69 feet wide . They have three decks referred to as Main, Salon and Bridge decks. The restrooms are located on the saloon deck while the snack bar is on the bridge deck. These are diesel boats
licensed for 5,200 passengers and 15 crew. They have no facilities for carrying cars.
3) AUSTIN CLASS: This class consist of two vessels; ALICE AUSTIN and JOHN A NOBLE. They were built at Derecktor Shipbuilding in Middletown, Rhode Island in 1986. They displace 499 tons, are 207 feet long and 40 feet wide. They are two deck all passenger diesel boats. They are licensed for 1107 passengers and 9 crew.
4) MOLINARI CLASS: This is the newest class of boats and consists of three vessels. The GUY V MOLINARI which entered service on January 26, 2005. The SEN JOHN J MARCHI which entered service on May 20, 2005 and the SPIRIT OF AMERICA which entered service on April 4, 2006. These boats were built at by the Manitowoc Marine Group of Marinette, Wisconsin. There are the first Staten Island boats to have four decks referred to as Main, Salon, Bridge and Hurricane decks. Restrooms are located on the salon and bridge decks. They displace 2794 tons, are 310 feet long and 70 feet wide. They are licensed for 4427 passengers and 16 crew and there all two vehicle gangways on the main deck for about 30 automobiles.
B) Daily Service
Five boats are required for daily service. One of the AUSTIN Class boats operates overnight from about 11 PM to 6 AM on an hourly headway. The headway for the rest of the day varies from 15 to 30 minutes with the larger boats being used. Peak service requires for boats.
Part II The Hart Island Ferry
The Hart Island Ferry operates on a stretch of the East River known as "Hart Island Roads." It connects City Island with Hart Island, both of which are politically in the borough of The Bronx.
Hart Island is the location of "Potter's Field" where the city's unclaimed and indigent dead are buried. A single boat is assigned to this service. She is the MICHEAL COSGROVE. She displaces 139 tons, is 60 feet long by 35 feet wide. She is a single decker with a narrow passenger cabin on on side of the boat and the pilot house atop that. She entered service in 1961 making her the oldest boat in the municipal fleet. The Hart Island Ferry operates "on demand" when there are bodies to be interred. Otherwise she is based at the Saint George Maintenance Facility.
Part III Observations
When the MERRELL Class boats were retired in the early eighties the Staten Island fleet consisted of only five vessels , three KENNEDY class and the two BARBERI class boats. With four boats required for peak service and the fifth boat undergoing routine maintenance or Coast Guard inspection there was no spare boat and several times this lead to a reduced headways when one of the "in service" boats developed a problem. When the MOLINARI Class boats began to arrive in 2005 the AMERICAN LEGION (II) was retired as she was in the poorest material condition. The DOT kept the KENNEDY and the LEHAMN in service while they overhauled the two BARBERI Class boats. The KENNEDY herself was then overhauled and the LEHMAN was retired. This provides the fleet with a sixth or spare boat. This has proven fortunate as the MOLINARI has an unfortunate habit of bumping into things. Plans are underway for a new class of three boats to replace the JFK and the BARBERI Class boats.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Jan 10, 2014 21:48:01 GMT -8
Larry/redbirdr33: not pedantic, not overly wordy... just some interesting insight into a ferry operation that's far different from anything we have on this coast. Much appreciated.
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Post by redbirdr33 on Jan 24, 2014 12:40:20 GMT -8
Ice on the Hudson
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Right now we are experiencing a cold snap here in the Northeast. Nothing out of the
ordinary for January but listen to the media and you are led to believe that it is the coming of a second Ice Age.
Nevertheless ice is forming on the Hudson River and it is impacting ferry operations.
The two upriver ferries that are operated by New York Waterways for the metro-North Railroad have suspended operations and contingency bus service is being provided. The regularly assigned boat for the Newburgh - Beacon Ferry, the CAPT MARK SUMMERS (a) WEST NEW YORK has been moved downriver to midtown Manhattan. The assigned boat for the Haverstraw - Ossining Ferry , the ADMIRAL RICHARD E BENNIS has been relocated to Weehawken, N.J.
There is float ice all the way across Newburgh Bay but the Coast Guard cutter STURGEON BAY WTGB -109 keeps the main steamer track open and this time of the year she usually ties up the US Military Academy dock at West Point, N.Y.
Ice is forming in the lower river as well what we New Yorkers like to call the "North River." Due to the location of the piers ice usually builds up on the Manhattan shoreline in two sections. The northern ice field extend from about 59 Street down to 30 Street encompassing the Passenger Ship Terminal , Circle Line Piers 81 and 83 and the West Midtown Ferry Terminal at West 39 Street (Pier 79). The southern field extends from about Pier 40 at Houston Street to the Battery. As of Thursday the ice field extends about 300 to 600 feet out into the river. It poses no problems for Staten Island ferryboats or the Liberty Island boats but it is impacting the operations of the smaller vessels on the commuter routes.
New York Waterways operates about sixteen ferry routes and has over thirty vessels. The smallest of these are the AUSTIN TOBIN class of six vessels. They are 64 feet long and displace 55 gross tons. They are normally used on the more lightly traveled routes such as Edgewater - Midtown and Paulus Hook - Midtown runs. Due to the ice buildup at Pier 39 the boats are running into the Port Imperial Terminal in Weehawken, N.J. where customers can transfer to the larger boats running across the river to Midtown. I made the westbound crossing from the WFC Terminal to Paulus Hook on the M.V. JERSEY and a little later the eastbound crossing from Weehawken to Midtown on the M.V. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. In both cases the boats had to proceed slowly through ice field and one could feel the float ice striking the hull.
The Liberty Landing Ferry which operates between Liberty Landing on the Morris Canal
in Jersey City and the World Financial Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan was operating but they were using the larger of their two boats , the LITTLE LADY II.
New York Water Taxi operates a combined ferry / excursion service between West 44 Street (Pier 84) in midtown Manhattan and the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn. Due to the ice the boats are not running north of the Battery. Service to both Pier 84 and Christopher Street is suspended.
Larry, RedbirdR33
Friday, January 24, 2014
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Post by redbirdr33 on Mar 17, 2014 6:42:26 GMT -8
M.V.John Keith on Liberty Landing Ferry
I was in lower Manhattan on February 27, 2014 and observed the M.V.JOHN KEITH in service on the Liberty Landing Ferry.
This route operates between the World Financial Center Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan across the Hudson River to the Liberty Landing Marina, located on the Morris and Essex Canal in Jersey City. The service is operated by Liberty Landing Ferries LLC and maintain a two boat fleet although only one boat is in use at any time. There is the LITTLE LADY, 11 gross tons built in 1999 and the LITTLE LADY II, 27 gross tons built in 2007.
The JOHN KEITH operates for the New York Water Taxi and is one of the original six boats of the "Mickey Murphy" Class. She was built in 2003 and displaces 53 tons. I imagine that she is on loan or lease to the Liberty Landing Ferry due to some condition affecting the two regular boats.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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Post by redbirdr33 on Mar 17, 2014 6:56:37 GMT -8
The Tuscarora Almanac is something that I have been compiling for a number of years. It is divided into three parts; The Book of First Runs, The Book of Last Runs and The Book of Wrecks. I started by primarily covering rail transit events but recently expanded it to include items of maritme news.. I hope that some will find it of interest.
Tuscarora Almanac - March 17, 1919 - The Book of Wrecks (Maritime Division)
The freighter WAUBESA outbound for Europe collides in heavy fog with the Staten Island ferryboats MAYOR GAYNOR and QUEENS in Upper New York Bay. The ferryboats suffer some damage but the WAUBESA sinks.
The QUEENS was one of the "Five Boroughs" Class of boats purchased by the City of New York when they took over operation of the Staten Island Ferry. She was built in 1905 . The MAYOR GAYNOR was built in 1914 .
Source: The Perils of the Port of New York.
If anyone has more information about this collision it would be most appreciated.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 6, 2014 10:08:52 GMT -8
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Post by redbirdr33 on Apr 18, 2014 7:20:55 GMT -8
Williamsburg Express Ferry
Tuscarora Almanac - April 18, 1988 - The Book of First Runs (Maritime Division)
The New York City Department of Transportation begins operation of the "Williamsburg Express Ferry" between the Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan and the Kent Avenue Pier in Brooklyn. This is being done in response to emergency repairs on the Williamsburg Bridge . The two smallest vessels in the Staten Island Fleet, the ALICE AUSTIN and the JOHN A NOBLE are used for this service . Service ended on June 10, 1988.
This was the first time since the mid 1960;s that a municipal ferry service had run on the East River.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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Post by redbirdr33 on Apr 18, 2014 7:33:14 GMT -8
Paulus Hook - WFC Ferry Weekend Service
The PATH rapid transit train tunnels under the Hudson River between Exchange Place in Jersey City and the World Financial Center (WFC) in Lower Manhattan will be closed on weekends for the rest of the year to allow for the repair of signals damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2013.
As a substitute New York Waterways will operate the Paulus Hook - WFC Ferry on the weekends from March 24 to May 14, 2014. The service will operate on a fifteen minute headway from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The Paulus Hook - WFC Ferry normally operates on weekdays but it does have the most frequent service of any ferry line in the harbor. Vessels run every seven to eight minutes.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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Post by redbirdr33 on Jun 30, 2014 13:18:38 GMT -8
This is a piece that I did in answer to a query. Some may find it of interest.
Tuscarora Maritime Dispatch No 1
Governor's Island Ferryboats 1940 to the Present (2014).
Governors Island in Upper New York Bay was until 1965 the location of Fort Jay and headquarters of the United States First Army. It served as the headquarters for the Atlantic Area Command of the United States Coast Guard from 1965 to 1996 when the property reverted back to New York States.
Between 1941 and 1943 the army acquired three vessels from the City of New York. These were 1) MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM H HART, 224522, a) John A.Lynch, b) Harlem
2) COLONEL ROBERT E.SHANNON , 229173, a) Melrose
3) SGT.CORNELIUS H CHARLTON, 225235, a) Joseph A.Guider, b) Flushing
In 1956 the army purchased a pair of sister ships. These were
1) LIEUT. SAMUEL S.COURSEN, FB- 812, 1138191 and
2) PVT.NICHOLAS MINUE, FB-813.
With the arrival of the Coursen Class boats the SHANNON and CHARLTON were placed in reserve at Pier 7 in Tomkinsville, Staten Island. They were sold for scrapping in 1964. The HART then became the third or spare boat.
The Coast Guard took over operation of the ferry in 1965 and in 1970 acquired two boats from the City of New York. These were former "Electric Ferries" that had run on the Staten Island - 69th Street (Bklyn) Ferry and the Jersey City - Liberty Street Ferry.
1) THE TIDES, 241539
2) THE NARROWS, 250214
It was never intended to operate THE NARROWS in Coast Guard service . She was used as a source of spare parts for her sister and was subsequently towed to Boston.
THE TIDES was repainted into Coast Guard colors and entered service replacing the HART. The HART subsequently spent some time at the South Street Seaport and then was moved to Witte's Marine Yard on Staten Island where she eventually sank into the Arthur Kill River.
In 1989 the Coast Guard acquired the GOVERNOR, 267527, a) CROWN CITY, b) KULSHAN.
The Coast Guard closed its base on Governors Island in 1996 and the property reverted back to New York State. The COURSEN was maintained in service in order to provide access to the island. The MINUE was tied up on the Kill Van Kull next to the Bayonne Bridge where she remains to this day somewhat the worse for wear. The GOVERNOR found a new home working for the Steamship Authority in Massachusetts. THE TIDES is no longer in documentation and I do not know what her disposition was.
Governors Island is now under the control of the Governors Island Corporation and they continue to operate the COURSEN on a year round basis. During the summer month service is also provided by New York Waterways.
Larry, RedbirdR33
June 30, 2014.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Aug 30, 2014 3:22:23 GMT -8
NEW YORK CHOOSES EBDGYou can add The Staten Island Ferry to Elliott Bay Design Group's list of design projects. They have been commissioned to design new ferries to replace the BARBERI, NEWHOUSE, and the JOHN F KENNEDY. Egg-beater propulsion is the chosen mode to propel the new ferries between Manhattan and Staten Island. Read EBDG's release: www.ebdg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/EBDG-Selected-for-New-SIF-Design_Press-Release.pdf Researched on the web, here's what would have been a conceptional design for the new ferries. Based on what I've read, people want more comfy seats and an all-around open promenade. We'll see what EBDG has up their sleeves in their design.
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Post by randyhey12 on Sept 11, 2014 2:35:24 GMT -8
Nice Pictures. I like all the pictures. Anyone have some more pictures please share them also.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Sept 20, 2014 17:28:39 GMT -8
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Post by northwesterner on Sept 20, 2014 20:01:23 GMT -8
Might be the Verrazzano; retired 1982. The other two ferries in that class should have already been scrapped... |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Sept 21, 2014 8:47:58 GMT -8
Might be the Verrazzano; retired 1982. The other two ferries in that class should have already been scrapped... Definitely, this is the VERRAZZANO. The ferries MERRELL and KOLFF served as jail boats at Rikers Island before facing their own "sentences".  While taking a ride aboard the ferry LEHMAN in 1997, members of the crew of that ferry told me that the VERRAZZANO was in Brooklyn. Sure enough, here she was as taken from a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan.  Another photo I took of the VERRAZZANO. She was in better shape then. I did see her two sisters from a telescope high atop the Empire State Building during my visit to New York City in 1997. The author sure didn't study ferries well before writing that note. Yes, the MERRELL and JFK class ferries have a few similarities, like bridge wings and having three decks for passengers (Main, Saloon, and Promenade). The biggest differences between the two classes were that the MERRELL class ran on steam power while the JFK class run on diesel. Sad to see the VERRAZZANO go. She was an interesting ferry to look at. Quite amazing how she has lasted this long. Hopefully, the JFK would have a better post-service life. |
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Post by northwesterner on Sept 21, 2014 11:02:53 GMT -8
Might be the Verrazzano; retired 1982. The other two ferries in that class should have already been scrapped... Definitely, this is the VERRAZZANO. The ferries MERRELL and KOLFF served as jail boats at Rikers Island before facing their own "sentences". While taking a ride aboard the ferry LEHMAN in 1997, members of the crew of that ferry told me that the VERRAZZANO was in Brooklyn. Sure enough, here she was as taken from a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan. Another photo I took of the VERRAZZANO. She was in better shape then. I did see her two sisters from a telescope high atop the Empire State Building during my visit to New York City in 1997. The author sure didn't study ferries well before writing that note. Yes, the MERRELL and JFK class ferries have a few similarities, like bridge wings and having three decks for passengers (Main, Saloon, and Promenade). The biggest differences between the two classes were that the MERRELL class ran on steam power while the JFK class run on diesel. Sad to see the VERRAZZANO go. She was an interesting ferry to look at. Quite amazing how she has lasted this long. Hopefully, the JFK would have a better post-service life. Hey FNS - These are some neat shots. Thanks for sharing with us. Sadly it does not seem like there is a community like ours to bring us information on the where-abouts and happenings with the State Island Ferry. And our East Coast correspondent, D'Elete BC in NJ, hasn't logged in for a while. Its hard to believe that she has survived more than 30 years after retirement. It is also hard to believe that her class of ferries were built as steamers in the 1950s and continued to operate as steamers until their retirement. I'd like to get a ride in on the John F Kennedy before she is retired. However, as the back-up boat, it would be very hard to gauge which trips she will operate on. I rode the late Herbert Lehman on my trip to NYC in 2005. Beautiful ferries. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on Sept 22, 2014 22:16:44 GMT -8
Definitely, this is the VERRAZZANO. The ferries MERRELL and KOLFF served as jail boats at Rikers Island before facing their own "sentences". While taking a ride aboard the ferry LEHMAN in 1997, members of the crew of that ferry told me that the VERRAZZANO was in Brooklyn. Sure enough, here she was as taken from a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan. Another photo I took of the VERRAZZANO. She was in better shape then. I did see her two sisters from a telescope high atop the Empire State Building during my visit to New York City in 1997. The author sure didn't study ferries well before writing that note. Yes, the MERRELL and JFK class ferries have a few similarities, like bridge wings and having three decks for passengers (Main, Saloon, and Promenade). The biggest differences between the two classes were that the MERRELL class ran on steam power while the JFK class run on diesel. Sad to see the VERRAZZANO go. She was an interesting ferry to look at. Quite amazing how she has lasted this long. Hopefully, the JFK would have a better post-service life. Hey FNS - These are some neat shots. Thanks for sharing with us. Sadly it does not seem like there is a community like ours to bring us information on the where-abouts and happenings with the State Island Ferry. And our East Coast correspondent, D'Elete BC in NJ, hasn't logged in for a while. Its hard to believe that she has survived more than 30 years after retirement. It is also hard to believe that her class of ferries were built as steamers in the 1950s and continued to operate as steamers until their retirement. I'd like to get a ride in on the John F Kennedy before she is retired. However, as the back-up boat, it would be very hard to gauge which trips she will operate on. I rode the late Herbert Lehman on my trip to NYC in 2005. Beautiful ferries. I have some good books of the Staten Island Ferry.  This 1964 Howell-North book has layouts of the MERRELL-Class ferries. That's the DONGAN HILLS shown on the front cover. She was built on Staten Island in 1929. If it's alright from the mods for me to display the layouts in this book to you forum mates, I'll do so. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 23, 2014 6:12:53 GMT -8
If it's alright from the mods for me to display the layouts in this book to you forum mates, I'll do so. I think that's a good idea. Please note the book name & publisher in your post.  |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Sept 23, 2014 11:16:01 GMT -8
If it's alright from the mods for me to display the layouts in this book to you forum mates, I'll do so. I think that's a good idea. Please note the book name & publisher in your post. Here are the layouts from Page 38 of Mr. George W. Hilton's book " The Staten Island Ferry", Howell-North Books, 1964:  The PVT. JOSEPH F. MERRELL was built in 1950 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Staten Island and was followed in 1951 by the CORNELIUS G. KOLFF and the VERRAZZANO. They were powered by Skinner Uniflow six-cylinder steam engines. FUNNEL NOTE: The uptakes from the Boiler Room went through a pair of side-by-side structures on the Main Deck, Upper Deck, and Bridge Deck. They then most likely went up through angled steelwork at each side of the funnel and out at the top. It's kind of funny how they called the rudder locking pin a "rudder gag pin" on the drawing. These 290-foot ferries carried 2954 passengers and 45 cars (Page 4). The Main Deck was for cars and there were passenger lounges on the sides. The men had their heads on this deck as well. The Upper Deck had a large lounge, the ladies heads, and a prom at each end. Two passenger ramps came down over the ends (as they continue to do on today's ferries there in NYC). There was food service on this deck as well. The Bridge Deck had more lounge seating as well as side open proms and the bridges themselves. Much of this design was carried over to the JFK-Class ferries. You'll need to get this book, or check it out at a library (ILL if needed), to see lots of good photos and drawings of the ferries on the Staten Island run. |
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Post by redbirdr33 on Sept 24, 2014 7:30:28 GMT -8
As the two previous respondents have noted this is certainly a Merrell and not a Kennedy Class boat. It is almost certainly the VERRAZZANO. I was unable to find a date for this picture.
The VERRAZZANO was in the poorest material condition of the three Merrell Class boats by the late 1970's and she was the first to be retired. I do not have the exact date but here two sisters continued in service until 1982. In 1987 the PVT JOSEPH F. MERRELL and the CORNELIUS G.KOLFF where transferred to the Department of Corrections for use as floating dormitories at the Rikers Island Prison in the East River. The VERRAZZANO languished in the harbor for many years turning up in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and behind Liberty Island as well as other places. As late as 1999 it was rumored that she was going to China and after that she more or less dropped off the radar. The vessel shown in the photos shows no evidence of having been converted to any other use.
A good spotting feature to tell the Merrells from the Kennedys was the pilot house. The pilot house on the Merrells has a rectangular shape while the front of the Kennedys pilot house is more rounded.
Due to the rectangular shape of the pilot house there were two blind spots on either side and this was a contributing factor in the collision that the VERRAZZANO had with a coastal tankers; POLING BROS. NO. 8 on November 23, 1963. The VERRAZZANO was struck by the tanker and holed below the waterline. Two Coast Guards tugs cast off from the Battery Park Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and came alongside her virtually lifting the boat and pushing her into the slip at Saint George. There she promptly sank in about ten feet of water becoming the first Staten Island ferry to sink since the NORTHFIELD in 1901 . (Source: Staten Island Ferry by George W. Hilton).
It was because of this incident that the Kennedy Class boats were designed with rounded pilot house to eliminate the blind spot.
Larry, RedbirdR33
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