Gothamist: What's Wrong with this Picture?

growler

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:53:06 -0500

That is the Spirit of America, which went into service today. It was delivered September of last year. It's been subject to lots of repairs since then. This was a test run, to make sure the boat works. Which it does for now. But not for long. The Barbieri breaks down pretty much once a week. The DOT are a bunch of idiots.

jose

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:44:48 -0500

Not that this contributes to the aswer the post is looking to get, but it is my understanding that the building that John accurately identifies above, the aforementioned 'galaxy', is where the village people used to live and write songs and do whatever else it was that they did. ...just thought i'd add that little tid bit.

famdoc

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:09:12 -0500

I asked a friend of mine in the maritime business and this is his reply: When a vessel comes out of the shipyard from it's scheduled drydocking they take them out on "Sea Trials" to test the equipment, welds, overall seaworthiness. I've seen them run out to the Verazono Bridge and back. SI Ferries are generally repaired at Caddell DryDock right down the terrace from us. We conduct similar exercises on our tugs. You don't want to venture out to sea on a vessel that may spring a leak or breakdown on you.

look it up

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:03:54 -0500

The ferries were not delivered "down the Hudson". They travelled though the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and down the Atlantic coast.

richard

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:56:54 -0500

That doesn't look like a new "boat", especially with its outdoor deck. I would guess that it's been hired as they are sometimes. While I was attending Stuyvesant HS some 15 years ago, they would have a yearly trip up to Bear Mountain - perhaps it is on some sort of related cruise.

Scott

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:39:05 -0500

The ferry is headed south. I'm thinking it's the delivery of the final "New" ferry which I think is named the Spirit of America. These new boats were constucted in Wisconsin, so it would make sense that delivery would come down the Hudson.

jtg

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:35:20 -0500

I work up in Washington Heights with a view of the GW bridge. Assuming this is the same ferry I saw (maybe two weeks ago) it came up the Hudson, crossed under the bridge and turned around back toward the south. They must have been testing a new ferry.

MT

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:30:22 -0500

Before the ferries went into service they were being tested in local waters. We got treated to three similar sightings - one for each time one of the new boats arrived in the city.

Coast Guard Jimmy

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:06:30 -0500

Since it appears to be one of the ones that the city recently bought, and which break down at an alarming rate, I would suspect that the SI ferry terminal couldn't handle whatever repair it needed so they sent it out to the Jersey yards for a major overhaul. Not really a big deal since the ferry path runs through a major shipping/cruise line and they have to "wander" all the time to avoid other boats (despite what the DOT may tell you).

John

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:53:00 -0500

It, the Staten Island Ferry,is in front of the township of Guttenberg NJ. The apartment building behind is called the 'Galaxy', if I remeber correctly, The townhouse develpment is...'the landing at port imperial' or something like that??

Tim N.

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:43:58 -0500

The Staten Island Ferry is sailing up the Hudson River (that's Weehawken, right? Across from the 40s?). I didn't look, but I will now.