Staten Island Ferry riders said Sunday they were stunned to learn that they were traveling on boats described as floating deathtraps by their own crews.
“I already found where the children’s life vests are — especially because I know they crash sometimes,” said Laura Smith, 32, of Queens. “We’re very concerned for the regular commuters.”
On Sunday, The Post exclusively reported that the ferries are plagued by often-failing batteries. This can shut down one or more of the four drives that are linked to propellers, which can make it impossible to slow or even stop the boat.
The battery failure is particularly dangerous when the boats are docking.
The vessels are barely seaworthy, a Staten Island Ferry pilot said — and the most dangerous boats in the fleet are the three newest ones, which the city purchased in 2005 for $140 million.
“You would think these new boats would be better,” said Veronica Dixon, 51, of Port Richmond. “They’ll say the ferry’s running a little late, or they have some type of delay. They would never state that they have a problem with the battery.”
Others said the findings were no shock, considering all the problems the ferries have had in the past.
“It doesn’t surprise me. Not at all,” said Clarissa Padilla, 29, who has lived on Staten Island for 10 years.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow, but there’s no other way to get across here unless you pay God-knows-what to cross the bridge, $15, and cut through Brooklyn, which is another form of extortion.”
Ironically, the John F. Kennedy boat — the oldest, having been commissioned in 1965 — is considered the most dependable.
“These revelations, if true, must be investigated to the fullest extent. We cannot put hard-working New Yorkers in danger. Ensuring riders’ safety is paramount,” said Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, chairman of the Transportation Committee.
The DOT has said all ferryboats have been certified to run by the Coast Guard.