Staten Island Ferry in Rhode Island

[Cotuit]

Ferry alights in Providence

BY ANDREA L. STAPE

Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Journal photo / Sandor Bodo The Guy V. Molinari, a new Staten Island ferry, docks at the Promet Marine Services Co. in Providence before heading to New York.

No, the orange Staten Island Ferry docked at the Port of Providence isn't lost.

It's just taking a little detour before starting its new job.

The ferry arrived in Providence last week on its way from Wisconsin to New York, where it will start shuttling passengers next month between Staten Island and Manhattan.

The ferry, named the Guy V. Molinari, is one of three new ferries commissioned by the New York City Department of Transportation. Built by the Manitowoc Marine Group in Marinette, Wis., the boat can carry about 4,500 passengers and up to 40 cars, according to the NYCDOT's Web site.

After being finished by Manitowoc in Wisconsin, the boat was outfitted with a temporary drag anchor, temporary bow and temporary fenders in order to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements for ocean-going vessels, said Dennis McCloskey, president of the Manitowoc Marine Group. Then it was sent to New York, sailing through the Great Lakes locks, the St. Lawrence seaway and into the Atlantic Ocean.

It's docked in Providence so that Promet Marine Services Co. of Providence can take off the temporary hardware, clean it up and prepare it for its celebratory arrival in New York, said McCloskey.

The Coast Guard has given Manitowoc the OK to cross the just 30 miles of open ocean between Providence and New York without the temporary gear, said McCloskey.

The Molinari, which cost about $40 million, will be in Providence for about a month before heading to New York, said McCloskey. It'll be docked here as preparations are made for its arrival at work.

"There will be a commissioning ceremony -- my guess is that this boat is going to go into New York with a lot of hoopla," said McCloskey.

These are the first new Staten Island ferries since the early 1980s, said McCloskey. The three ships, at a cost of about $120 million, will replace the Kennedy Class boats the NYCDOT is currently using, according to the NYCDOT's Web site. Those Kennedy class ships are nearly 40 years old, according to information on the Web site.

Promet will ship the temporary hardware back to Wisconsin so Manitowoc can prepare the next new Staten Island ferry, the "John J. Marchi," for its trip to New York City said McCloskey.

From The Providence Journal