The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has posted its marine accident report concerning the allision of the Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi with a maintenance pier at the Staten Island Ferry terminal on October 15, 2003. Fifteen crewmembers and an estimated 1,500 passengers were on board. Ten passengers died in the accident and 70 were injured. An eleventh passenger died 2 months later as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
The NTSB found that the probable cause of this accident was the assistant captain’s unexplained incapacitation and the failure of the New York City Department of Transportation to implement and oversee safe, effective operating procedures for its ferries. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of the captain to exercise his command responsibility over the vessel by ensuring the safety of its operations.
The Board noted that the Staten Island ferries lacked common technological innovations that are common in use today and that the Global Maritime and Transportation School (GMATS) has recommended that the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) aquire and install such devices, including: ARPA, AIS and electronic chart display and information systems.
NYCDOT engaged GMATS following the incident. The NTSB report notes that the NYCDOT was following the GMATS recommendations and had purchased and installed some of the systems in February, 2005.
