New York Ferry - Page 2

Yamsailor · #11 01-10-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolatom

I would bet on prop control failure depriving capt of reverse, or enough reverse. But we'll see.

New reg coming, I would think--"stay seated till vessel is stopped, don't line up early at the exits" or the like. Downtown New Yorkers will hate this..

The ferry does not have propellers, it has rotating jet drives.

nolatom · #12 01-10-2013

true? I read somewhere she had recently converted back to props and maybe some bugs in the new system.

miatapaul · #13 01-10-2013

is there any video of the actual accident? all I saw was unloading. Seems like they would have cameras at the docks. Perhaps they just have not released it.

jimjazzdad · #14 01-10-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolatom

I would bet on prop control failure depriving capt of reverse, or enough reverse. But we'll see.

New reg coming, I would think--"stay seated till vessel is stopped, don't line up early at the exits" or the like. Downtown New Yorkers will hate this..

A lot of commercial vessels use variable pitch propellers for both speed and direction control. Failure of the control mechanism can have serious results.

I was on a MODU (Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit - ie jackup oil rig) when the supply boat lost control - the props failed in full reverse pitch. He went right under the rig, bounced off the bow leg, gave us a good shake and punched some holes in his side, fortunately above the waterline.

I can just imagine something like that happening with a ferry full of people...

RichH · #15 01-10-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolatom

I would bet on prop control failure depriving capt of reverse, or enough reverse. But we'll see.

New reg coming, I would think--"stay seated till vessel is stopped, don't line up early at the exits" or the like. Downtown New Yorkers will hate this..

The usual practice for most of the fast ferries in NY harbor is to come in 'full bore' until the very last moment and then 'back down' in 'high' reverse to kiss and meet with the dock as rapidly as possible .... probably to minimize the wake risk thats always present.
If you have a mechanical failure or an errant wake hits you at that 'very instant' ........ BLAM.

These ferries are all on very 'tight' schedules. A lot of these ferries carry a lot of 'standees' especially during 'rush hour'.

SloopJonB · #16 01-10-2013

We do it bigger here and don't hurt anyone although one guy on those floats had to run for his life.

Queen of Oak Bay Crash - YouTube

Our news stories about the NYC crash sounded a lot like some we've had here - failure of the reversing gear - that's what it was in the attached clip. Changing from waterjets to props in what was by all accounts an already troubled boat sure sounds like the source of the problem in some way.

billyruffn · #17 01-12-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalebD

This was the Atlantic Higlands, NJ to Wall Street ferry and NOT the Staten Island Ferry which has made news before. Apparently this particular ferry has also been in previous accidents.
The linked article says that it may have been traveling close to 12 - 14 knots when it hit the pier.

The last time I saw one of those ferries (but only on radar) was a very foggy (and I really mean foggy) morning about 6 miles north of Atlantic Highlands. I was headed for the East River -- he was headed for Wall Street. He came by me at 32 knots (AIS said so) and all I saw was his wake.

It was so foggy that morning they had closed NY harbor and stopped all commercial traffic. We hadn't gotten the word and were proceeding very slowly towards our appointment with a positive current in the East River.

32 knots in weather where you can't see 100 feet!!! If that's the way they run a ferry line.....well, maybe it isn't so surprising they crash the dock every now and then.

mdbee · #18 01-12-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolatom

true? I read somewhere she had recently converted back to props and maybe some bugs in the new system.

I read the same report. The props cut their top speed but improved their fuel consumption.

chef2sail · #19 01-13-2013

These high speed feries look like comets on my digital radar screen, they move so quickly. I have more angst when they are buzzing around you than the SI Ferry even though they blow their horns at you and try and run you over.
Dave

smurphny · #20 01-13-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyruffn

The last time I saw one of those ferries (but only on radar) was a very foggy (and I really mean foggy) morning about 6 miles north of Atlantic Highlands. I was headed for the East River -- he was headed for Wall Street. He came by me at 32 knots (AIS said so) and all I saw was his wake.

It was so foggy that morning they had closed NY harbor and stopped all commercial traffic. We hadn't gotten the word and were proceeding very slowly towards our appointment with a positive current in the East River.

32 knots in weather where you can't see 100 feet!!! If that's the way they run a ferry line.....well, maybe it isn't so surprising they crash the dock every now and then.

Agree. They seem to be in a big hurry and not too concerned about the basic tenet of every rulebook that talks about maneuvering at a safe speed so as to be able to avoid collision. Apparently there are different rules for fast boats. I am very surprised that they have not yet killed a lot of people. Just a matter of time.