l’Hermione
Photo: AFP / XAVIER LEOTY
A recent article in the TribecaTribOnline was titled, “Two Historic Sailing Ships Could Dock at Seaport This Summer.” The story is that Jonathan Boulware, the South Street Seaport Museum’s interim president, is working very hard to arrange dock space for the replica frigate l’Hermione and the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle at the Seaport this summer. l’Hermione is a reconstruction of the 1779 French ship that ferried General Marquis de Lafayette to the U.S. during the Revolutionary War and the USCGC Eagle is a sail training ship based at the Coast Guard Academy in New London. It sounds like an excellent idea, notwithstanding a few logistical issues. In fact, it may be more daunting than it appears at first.
Richard Shrubb recently posed the question in BoatingTimesLI.com, “Are Historic Ships Welcome in New York Harbor?” The answer to the question may not exactly be “no,” but it is still a considerable distance from “yes.” Shrubb quotes Mary Habstritt, the founder of the Historic Ships Coalition, who notes that “for short term stays, it is very hard to track down who you need to get a berth in New York Harbor. There are a huge number of pier operators, and no central directory for visiting ships to contact.”
The costs are also high. For short term docking, the city can charge up to $10.00 per linear foot per night, which in the case of the USCG Cutter Eagle could cost around $9,000 for a weekend, before adding in charges for water, electricity and other services which could drive the costs far higher. The cost of insurance can also a factor. According to Donald Liloia, vice president of a major pier operator, Dock NYC, “The burden for operators is $20 million in coverage,” explains Liloia. “This makes it very difficult for small scale ship operators to keep a ship in the area.”
The largest issue is simply the shortage of dock space. The island of Manhattan, which was once fringed with docks, has very few remaining. If Jonathan Boulware at the South Street Seaport succeeds in hosting Hermione and the USCGC Eagle, he will need to find more dock space. The museum once used Piers 14 through 18 to for dockage. Now, it only has Pier 16, and temporarily, the north side of Pier 15. The space they have access to currently is in use.
Sadly, one historic ship will not be needing dockage in New York any longer. The Half Moon, replica of the ship Henry Hudson used to explore the river that bears his name, is leaving New York state after years of failing to find a supportive home. Despite promises of support from the state, the ship never found a home on the Hudson River. This spring she will be loaded on a heavy-lift ship to be carried across the Atlantic to serve as a museum ship at the Westfries Museum in the Dutch city of Hoorn.
There’s a lot I don’t know about berthing tall ships in NYC, but all the folks I’ve talked to say the same . . . expensive and unwelcoming. Last May i stayed in Amsterdam at a place called the Boatel on the NDSM werf, a short FREE ferry ride to the Amsterdam central train station, i.e., heart of Amsterdam. NDSM wet is magical because of the odd assemblage of historic vessels berthed there–including Radio Veronica and a Soviet-era submarine. Check out pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23539919@N06/sets/72157604230813529/
You’d think NYC would think it in their best interest to develop alternative lodgings/eating establishments like these.
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Great this article’s causing such a buzz. As a journalist it is a good feeling!
I’ve got to add something here. I was told by one tall ship owner that they were quoted $100,000 for utilities for a weekend in Manhattan, ON TOP of the exorbitant docking fees.
I was also told that a major New York developer didn’t want historic ships marring the view of the harbour.
If any other writer wants to get stuck into this, you’re more than welcome as the stories are many and the ground fertile.
In 2000, I attended Tall Ships 2000 in NYC.
There must have been 50 to 100 ships docked along the west side piers of Manhatan. How did they manage that? My son’s 90 ft NOAA ship was docked right next to the Intrepid. I am sure the NOAA budget didn’t come up with the kind of money spoken of above.
What has changed?
I feel happy for the Dutch, but kicked in the stomach as an American. We constantly hear that Europe is running out of money; granted, some EU members are in dire straits. Yet the French, so often chided as lazy and on the brink, have managed to complete Le Hermione; and there are tall ship races in Europe yearly. In today’s America, money is all that matters, except to ensure that it keeps flowing to those to whom it hardly matters. The failed promise of state support bodes ill for Boston in 2017, whose late, truly great mayor couldn’t get Beacon Hill to help with the security tab. The new mayor said he was all on-board, but we’re seeing that values change quickly, even with our own economy starting to recover. That no other state picked up Half Moon is a shame; I wonder if others were given a chance.