MV Andrew J. Barberi
The MV Andrew J. Barberi was a Barberi-class ferry boat that was operated as part of the Staten Island Ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island in New York City. With a capacity of 6,000, she was among the highest-capacity boats in the ferry's fleet.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Andrew J. Barberi was named after the longtime coach of Curtis High School's football team. Since her introduction in 1981, she has had a history of incidents, including a 2003 crash that killed 11 people and a 2010 crash that injured 37.<ref name=":0" /> The boat was retired in 2023, and the city placed her for sale in 2024. In March 2025, the vessel was scrapped.<ref name="Tugster" />
Description
The Andrew J. Barberi was the first of two Staten Island Ferry boats in the Barberi class, which also includes MV Samuel I. Newhouse (built 1982).<ref name=SIM2014>Template:Cite book</ref> Each boat has a crew of 15, can carry 6,000 passengers but no cars, is Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide, with a draft of Template:Convert, a gross tonnage of Template:Convert, a service speed of Template:Convert, and four engines capable of 8,000 horsepower (6.0 MW).<ref name="Cudahy1990">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="nycgov-official">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="The History of the Staten Island Ferry 2014a">Template:Cite web</ref> The Andrew J. Barberi has two propellers each capable of Template:Convert.<ref name="Instruments h185">Template:Cite web</ref> Both ships in the Barberi class were built at the Equitable Shipyard in New Orleans,<ref name="Instruments h185" /><ref name="Adams1983" /> at a cost of $16.5 million each. At the time of construction, the ships' capacity was the largest of any licensed ferry in the world.<ref name=Adams1983>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Andrew J. Barberi made her maiden voyage in August 1981<ref name=":0" /> and, along with the Samuel I. Newhouse, was built to replace three steam-powered vessels.<ref name="Instruments h185" /> Andrew J. Barberi was named after the longtime coach of Curtis High School's football team, who had died shortly before the ship was commissioned.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Instruments h185" /> Barberi coached throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s and was instrumental in the development of scholastic football on Staten Island.<ref name=":0" />
2003 crash
On October 15, 2003, Andrew J. Barberi collided with a pier on Staten Island.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CBS 2003 s436">Template:Cite web</ref> Eleven people were killed, including one decapitation, and 70 more injured as a result.<ref name="silive 2021 i834">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Delaney 2022 s980">Template:Cite web</ref> On March 8, 2005, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a report on its investigation into the incident. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the collision was the assistant pilot's sudden incapacitation due to unreported and illegal use of prescription medications for chronic pain, high blood pressure and insomnia (none of these conditions had been reported to the Coast Guard as required by law), with a contributory cause of the master's failure to maintain command and control of his vessel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The assistant pilot pleaded guilty to 11 counts of seaman's manslaughter and falsifying his medical forms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The ferry director also pleaded guilty after failing to enforce a rule requiring that ferries be operated by two pilots,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the doctor who had certified the assistant pilot pleaded guilty to making a false statement about the assistant pilot's health.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Andrew J. Barberi was rebuilt in West Brighton, Staten Island by Caddell Dry Dock & Repair Co. and, on July 1, 2004, returned to regular service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Saltonstall 2004 p160">Template:Cite web</ref> A plaque was installed inside the ferryboat, commemorating the victims of the crash.<ref name="Arnow 2006 t624">Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 crash
At 9:18 a.m. on May 8, 2010, the Andrew J. Barberi forcefully collided with the St. George Terminal on Staten Island, hitting a passenger bridge at the terminal.<ref name="NTSB">Template:Cite web</ref> She had been traveling at about Template:Convert at the time of the collision.<ref name="CNN 2010 s597" /> Around 40 passengers were taken to the hospital for a variety of injuries.<ref name="CNN 2010 s597">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NY Times">Template:Cite web</ref> The only damage was found above the waterline of the Staten Island end of the vessel.<ref name="CNN 2010 s597" /><ref name="NTSB" />
An NTSB investigation found that there was a problem with the vessel's propulsion system. At one end of the vessel was a propulsion control panel, where electric solenoids were used to shift hydraulic valves. These valves sent hydraulic oil to the control cylinders on the propulsion units, shifting the pitch setting of the units. Investigators found that bronze ring fragments had lodged themselves in the solenoids, preventing their correct operation.<ref name="NTSB" /> The NTSB announced their findings in April 2012.<ref name="Sedon 2012 o038">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ABC7 New York 2010 p643">Template:Cite web</ref>
Retirement and fate
The New York City government was looking to retire the aging Andrew J. Barberi by 2012,<ref name="Colvin 2012 g582">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Jorgensen 2012 f347">Template:Cite web</ref> and her replacements, the Ollis-class ferries, were announced in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ml1">Template:Cite web</ref> The Andrew J. Barberi was retired from service in October 2023.<ref name="Bascome 2023 o398">Template:Cite web</ref> The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services placed the boat for sale at an auction in May 2024; the starting price for the auction was set at $155,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That June, the boat was sold for $101,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was scrapped the next year. Her sister ship: Samuel I. Newhouse, remains in service as of 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
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