New York State buys a boat
New York State needed another ferry boat. Here is what they bought.
From the Albany, NY
Times Union:
State sinks $500K into bad boat
Ferry boat for Governors Island development project found to be junk
A ferry boat for New York Harbor, purchased by taxpayers for $500,000, has turned out to be a useless rusting hulk officials are now desperately trying to sell on eBay.
Top bid so far: $14,800.
New York taxpayers bought the boat, called the Islander, in August 2007. After decades of trips between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts authority had put it up for auction.
"We were the winning bidder," said Jon Meyers, director of real estate for the Governors Island Preservation & Education Corp. He added that the state got the boat for $250,000 less than the asking price from the Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole Steamship Authority.
But Meyer said the 200-foot passenger and car carrier has never been used since: Once it got to New York Harbor, inspectors realized it was not seaworthy. In fact, it had been run beyond its lifespan.
Fixing it would cost $6 million for steel work alone to get it in shape for its intended purpose backing up a 50-year-old vessel called the Coursen, which transports people between Manhattan and Governors Island hourly from 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A week ago, the state Office of General Services moored the rusted vessel on eBay. The three-deck ferry has been on auction for a week. Thursday's top offer of $14,800 at press time came after 34 bids.
Cannot find the boat auction on eBay so it was either pulled or it closed with a successful sale.
You think that the sales contract would stipulate that the boat successfully pass a marine survey. What lunkhead signed off on that boondoggle?
Posted by DaveH at February 20, 2009 6:54 PM