FNS
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Post by FNS on Jul 18, 2007 12:32:14 GMT -8
The former Martha's Vineyard ferry ISLANDER may be heading to Governors Island. Right now, the COURSEN is serving the historic former USCG site. MV TIMES has the rest of this story: www.mvtimes.com/news/2007/07/12/islander.php
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Post by Retrovision on Jul 18, 2007 15:05:42 GMT -8
great news. thanks.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Dec 28, 2007 14:39:34 GMT -8
Here is the latest news from the NY Times on the former Martha's Vineyard ferry MV ISLANDER (don't know how long this will be on the site): cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/a-floating-apparition-in-buttermilk-channel/She is now made fast at Governors Island, waiting for her eventual assignment. It'll be interesting to see her under a backdrop of towering buildings compared to the low hills and buildings where she formerly served.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Dec 28, 2007 15:16:40 GMT -8
Here is the latest news from the NY Times on the former Martha's Vineyard ferry MV ISLANDER (don't know how long this will be on the site): cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/a-floating-apparition-in-buttermilk-channel/She is now made fast at Governors Island, waiting for her eventual assignment. It'll be interesting to see her under a backdrop of towering buildings compared to the low hills and buildings where she formerly served. That's great that the Islander will get to sail again. They're even letting her keep her own name. What I don't get is the quote in the article that says: "the Islander might not have got you there in style, but she almost always got you there." What's he talking about?... That ship is a classic. She's the epitome of style; right up there with all our classic old ships like Sechelt Queen and Queen of Tsawwassen.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 28, 2007 16:59:51 GMT -8
Yes, good indeed to hear about her sailing again.
Apparently she's a little more seaworthy compared to her replacement, the MV Island Home, according to regulars. When I was out on Cape Cod, I had a good talk with a friend of my Aunts who delivers the mail to Marthas Vineyard once or twice a day. He was on her final sailing from Woods Hole to Marthas Vineyard, and then returned back to Woods Hole on the brand new Island Home. He knows the SSA fleet very well, along with everyone who works on them. The Islander apparently would absorb the waves, and move along against a pretty big chop like nothing. From the looks of it, passenger accomadations were two saddle lounges on either side of the car deck. So forward viewing would only be available if you went outside to the sundeck.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 28, 2007 20:11:35 GMT -8
Chris I have just started reading a book I got for Christmas. "The Ghost" by Robert Harris. In the first page a "Ghostwriter" for an ex-British Prime Minister goes missing on the Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Ferry. They dock and he doesn't show up to drive his car off the ferry. However, no Tom Clancy detail here... the ferry isn't named and no details given. So far.
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 5, 2008 12:12:39 GMT -8
From now on, this will be the thread to talk about the Massachussetts Steamship Authority Ferries. I've upload two more Galleries of the Steamship Authority Ferries to my Fotopic Gallery now. The First one being, the M/V Nantucket. photosbychris2006.fotopic.net/c1436205.htmlThe Second one being a gallery for Misc. photos of Ferries in Massachussetts. Most of the Ferries featured in there are part of the SSA Fleet. This includes the, MV Marthas Vineyard, MV Katama, MV Sankaty, MV Gay Head, and of course the EX WSF, MV Governor/Kulshan. photosbychris2006.fotopic.net/c1436224.html
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Post by olgasparky on Jan 13, 2008 18:07:38 GMT -8
Great set up of your images Chris! Nana and I were down in Woods Hole a few days ago and one of the ferries was plowing across the sound. It was clear as can be! Thought of you! Happy New Year! When are you coming back to Cape Cod!! Aunty K (olgasparky)
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Jan 29, 2008 12:34:09 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 8, 2008 20:59:23 GMT -8
Well, I was looking at GoogleEarth the other day and found this neat overhead view. Don't know when this was taken. But, I found the MV GOVERNOR and the MV ISLANDER moored together at Bedford, MA. Notice the wave breakers SSA installed at the ends on the GOVERNOR. Now, tonight, the GOVERNOR was at Vineyard Haven and we see the Keystone prototype MV ISLAND HOME making her last landing before heading back to Woods Hole to conclude her day. We will be seeing the same number of layers of lights on the sides of her Keystone sisters.
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 9, 2008 22:19:22 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 9, 2008 22:24:31 GMT -8
Great shots, Brandon..! ;D
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 10, 2008 0:44:21 GMT -8
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 10, 2008 12:32:04 GMT -8
Cool. Having seen the photo comparison of the Nantucket before and after, I think I preferred her previous look (Sorry, Chris). Mostly just because what are those big white bunkers that she now has on the forward deck in front of the wheelhouse and main cabin?
I like the shots of her cardeck, the way the side tunnels are enclosed that way makes it look like there would be a lot of hidden spaces to explore there. I'm just curious, though, for those who have been on the Island Home: I'm having trouble visualizing the layout of her cardeck from the photos... did the ship have a master layout plan, or fireplan on her anywhere that showed the layout of the cardeck too?
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 10, 2008 12:50:16 GMT -8
Cool. Having seen the photo comparison of the Nantucket before and after, I think I preferred her previous look (Sorry, Chris). Mostly just because what are those big white bunkers that she now has on the forward deck in front of the wheelhouse and main cabin? Those bunkers are the stairwells to the saddle lounges below. It looks like they used to be further forward, before the upgrade (in looking at Chris's photos).
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 10, 2008 22:31:05 GMT -8
Cool. Having seen the photo comparison of the Nantucket before and after, I think I preferred her previous look (Sorry, Chris). Mostly just because what are those big white bunkers that she now has on the forward deck in front of the wheelhouse and main cabin? I like the shots of her cardeck, the way the side tunnels are enclosed that way makes it look like there would be a lot of hidden spaces to explore there. I'm just curious, though, for those who have been on the Island Home: I'm having trouble visualizing the layout of her cardeck from the photos... did the ship have a master layout plan, or fireplan on her anywhere that showed the layout of the cardeck too? Here are the layouts of the Main Decks. As you can see, the main access shaft is on the Port Side. On the other side, the Starboard Side Tween Deck "hangs" over the cars on that side (supported from the overhead). The Starboard Tween Deck on the new Keystone ferries will be a Bike Deck for storage of a handsome amount of bicycles. The Port Side Tween Deck lounges remain on the new Keystone ferries. Orange areas are for crew only. The blue paths I show are wheelchair paths to the elevators (as I said on another thread, only the Number One End elevator serves all decks, the Number Two End elevator goes as far as the Saloon Deck only on the ISLAND HOME, both elevators will serve all decks on the new Keystone ferries). The dotted lines show where the overhead items are, as well as where the forced air car deck ventilation apparatuses are (vent casings and louvers are on the Sun Deck). Excellent info has been on SNAME's website.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 10, 2008 22:44:20 GMT -8
Cool, that is great... now I know what was looking not quite right in the photos, because the outermost lane of cars goes through a tunnel on the one side, but the other side is open. It just seems odd that there would be a shaft housing for stairways only on one side and leave the other side empty. It looks unbalanced. (Man! Don't they teach the virtues of symmetry in design school anymore...?)
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 11, 2008 0:48:18 GMT -8
Funny you know....I did three sailings on the Island Home a year ago, and I couldn't remember even remember the exact layout of the car deck when it was asked. So believe it not, I've learned something tonight, with her having an off centered casing.
Also too, Ernie...there was a two staircases in the shaft housing as you mentioned, but also two stairways on the opposite side of the ship. Those led to either end of the one saddle lounge, whereas the other stairways would bring you more to the center of the saddle lounges.
If I remember correctly as well....the Engine room was off centered as well. The actual engines are located more towards the #1 end it seemed, but leaving enough space for another room at the bow. Then closer to the #2 end there is the crews mess, and offices, followed by another room at right at the bow on the #2 end for water tanks/sewage/etc.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 11, 2008 9:32:40 GMT -8
Funny you know....I did three sailings on the Island Home a year ago, and I couldn't remember even remember the exact layout of the car deck when it was asked. So believe it not, I've learned something tonight, with her having an off centered casing. Also too, Ernie...there was a two staircases in the shaft housing as you mentioned, but also two stairways on the opposite side of the ship. Those led to either end of the one saddle lounge, whereas the other stairways would bring you more to the center of the saddle lounges. If I remember correctly as well....the Engine room was off centered as well. The actual engines are located more towards the #1 end it seemed, but leaving enough space for another room at the bow. Then closer to the #2 end there is the crews mess, and offices, followed by another room at right at the bow on the #2 end for water tanks/sewage/etc. Geez... and we think the Island Sky has problems... (note how close their names are.) Look at these ferries: they're lopsided, cause the WSF plans show the same thing with one saddle-lounge being accessed from the center through a casing, and one accessed from the ends. For some reason, it just makes me think that there is something missing, or incomplete in the layout of the vessel, and the kind of bugs me.
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Post by davidp on Nov 13, 2008 21:05:17 GMT -8
SSA Fans - I'm new here and was wondering if someone could answer a few questions I've wondered about for a while - what happened to the SS Naushon (1956-built ex-Nantucket) and the Uncateena (1965) after the SSA sold them? I lived on the Vineyard 1977-1980 and have fond memories of those boats.
Also, what became of the old Martha's Vineyard - sister ship to the Nobska - after its days on the Bridgeport - Port Jefferson run? Any info is appreciated!
Dave
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Nov 14, 2008 8:10:31 GMT -8
SSA Fans - I'm new here and was wondering if someone could answer a few questions I've wondered about for a while - what happened to the SS Naushon (1956-built ex-Nantucket) and the Uncateena (1965) after the SSA sold them? I lived on the Vineyard 1977-1980 and have fond memories of those boats. Also, what became of the old Martha's Vineyard - sister ship to the Nobska - after its days on the Bridgeport - Port Jefferson run? Any info is appreciated! Dave The Naushon and Uncatena have new lives as the Bayou Caddy's Jubilation and the Entertainer respectively. I think I have found a photo of the Entertainer: media.shipspotting.com/uploads/thumbs/rw/416385_800/Ship+Photo+Entertainer.jpgShip info for the Bayou Caddy's Jubilation can be found here: www.boatinfoworld.com/registration.asp?vn=170740IMO 5246996 *Edit to add some additional information: IMO number : 5246996 Name of ship : BAYOU CADDY'S JUBILATION CASINO Call Sign : WH6564 Gross tonnage : 2652 Type of ship : Passenger Ship Year of build : 1957 Flag : U.S.A. Status of ship : In Service Last update : 2006-11-20 IMO number : 6523860 Name of ship : ENTERTAINER Call Sign : WV8388 Gross tonnage : 439 Type of ship : Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship Year of build : 1965 Flag : U.S.A. Status of ship : Dead Last update : 2005-07-11 www.nobska.org/hist/a1.htm
...in 1968 the "Martha's Vineyard" entered service across Long Island Sound between Bridgeport, Connecticut and Port Jefferson, Long Island. She continued there through the season of 1985. She was later sold and moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts where she sank in September of 1990 and was subsequently scrapped...
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Jan 29, 2009 11:59:36 GMT -8
Seems like the former Martha's Vineyard ferry MV Islander is going to be homeless (or worse) again soon.
Governors Island Impeached?
by Eliot Brown on January 27, 2009 On Monday, Ken Fisher made his way to his first directors’ meeting for Governors Island. An attorney, former councilman and chairman of the advocacy group Governors Island Alliance, Mr. Fisher had never been to the board meetings of the island’s operating agency at the 41st Street state office building, preferring to stay more behind the scenes.
But this week, he had something he wanted to get out in public.
“At the moment, I’m flapped,” he recalled saying. “There is no budget line in the state budget [to support Governors Island], and that last year the shortfall was made up by leftover surplus funds.”
The future these days is indeed looking grim for Governors Island, the city/state-owned former Coast Guard base that officials hope to turn into a grandiose park with accompanying commercial development. With no money in the state budget, the city may well follow with no money; and the nascent revitalization of the island could conceivably be cut short come April 1, when the state budget is due.
The island serves as an emblem of the cyclical nature of government planning, when grand amenities and far-reaching developments are drawn up during good times and cancelled or scaled back in bad.
To add to the travails, the island’s operating agency, the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, will have to give up its prized acquisition of recent years. At the Monday meeting, it said that the 770-passenger, half-century-old ferry it bought in 2007 for $500,000 has proved to be a lemon; new steel alone will likely cost at least $3 million more than expected, not to mention other deferred maintenance problems in need of money.
“Given all of those findings, our maritime surveyor as well as our current operator have recommended that we sell the vessel,” said Jon Meyers, a GIPEC executive.
The cash-strapped agency put it up for sale locally; got no bids; and now is looking elsewhere for buyers. The likely auction setting: eBay.
Avi Schick, chairman of the agency’s board, said that he has had conversations with the governor’s office about restoring funding—typically about $15 million per year between the city and the state—though there have not been any commitments yet.
“I think the conversations that we’ve had indicate a desire on the part of the governor’s office,” he said at the meeting. But, as Mr. Schick noted, “there’s nothing automatic about any of this.”
ebrown@observer.com
[emphasis added]
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Post by Northern Exploration on Jan 29, 2009 14:05:50 GMT -8
Maybe the ferry could get a home at the South Street Seaport. I don't believe there is a ferry there in the ships that are open to the public. I haven't
Governors Island has an enviable position in New York Harbor. It is just off the southern tip of Manhattan. Across the harbor is the Statue of Liberty. There are a series of colonial looking red brick buildings and lots of green spaces with large trees. There have been plans after plans for the site. However much of the time it has been in limbo. In my mind, it would be great if there was a mixed use with some housing, some public spaces, some parks, an arts or museum, and some indoor/outdoor eating places to take advantage of the amazing views. A good chunk needs to be set asside for the public though.
Access is an issue. I don't recall if on the Brooklyn side if a bridge would be possible. The ferry ride is short from Manhattan. All the large number of private passenger ferry/taxi services could as well augment.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 28, 2009 17:24:35 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Mar 1, 2009 1:50:19 GMT -8
I kind of figured the ISLANDER wouldn't fit into the Governors Island service. She was a bit too big. She was meant for longer crossings than the short half mile trip from lower Manhattan over to Governors.
The best vessel for use there is definitely the MV COURSEN. This vessel was built for this run in the late 1950s and still looks like a new ferry. Perfect cabin size as well. If more footies need to use this, the other side of the Main Deck could be enclosed as a lounge. Currently there is one side lounge on the Main Deck, car lanes that spread to the other side, and an amidships lounge on her Saloon Deck. Hopefully, the COURSEN will be maintained well and kept in service. Hope to ride this vessel one day.
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