The USS Constitution is made of timber from Maine to Georgia and armed with cannons cast in Rhode Island and copper fastenings provided by Paul Revere. Launched in Boston on October 21, 1797, she first put to sea in 1798. Having remained a part of the U.S. Navy since that day, Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the world which is still afloat. Her first mission, during the late 1790's, was to guard American commerce in the Caribbean against French depredations. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent her to the Mediterranean to protect American ships and seamen from attack by the Barbary pirates. With Captain Edward Preble in command, Constitution and other ships of the squadron bombarded Tripoli. Thanks to such determination, a treaty of peace was signed in June 1805 between the United States and Tripoli aboard Constitution. After returning to the United States, Constitution was named flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. In 1810, her new captain, Isaac Hull, took her to sea. Two years later she met and defeated HMS Guerriere, the first in a grand succession of victories in the War of 1812. It was during this ferocious battle that the seamen, astonished at how the British cannonballs were bouncing off the Constitution's hull, cried out - "Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron!" Hence, her nickname,"Old Ironsides."
The Constellation was the first US Navy ship to bear the Constellation name for the “Constellation of Stars” on the new American flag was launched in Baltimore in 1797. . Rating 38 guns, displacing 1,278 tons, with 164-ft. length and 40 ft., 6 in. beam, Constellation combined the firepower of a standard frigate with celerity of a Baltimore Clipper. Capable of cruising at 14 knots, she earned the nickname, "Yankee Racehorse." In early 1799, she captured the French 36-gun frigate Insurgente off the West Indies. While the Insurgente was moving in to grapple, the speedy Constellation maneuvered across her bow and raked the Insurgente fiercely with a full broadside causing Insurgente to surrender.In 1800, the 52-guns Vengeance and Constellation battled it out for 5 hours! While both suffered greatly the Vengeance, almost completely destroyed and in danger of sinking, escaped in the darkness. The Constellation went on to fight many more battles on the high seas.
On October 21, 1805, one of the most momentous battles in European history began off Cape Trafalgar, Spain. The HMS Victory, led by Lord Horatio Nelson, defeated the Napoleon-led armada of French and Spanish ships as they attempted to invade England. At the head of the British column, Nelson's flagship, the HMS Victory, sailed directly into the center of the Napoleon-led fleet to cut it in two. Her steering was disabled, her sails were full of holes, and she was partially dismasted, but Victory came straight on. Only then did Nelson give the order to open fire while turning to run down the line of the French formation. Victory slashed through the enemy's line of ships, taking great punishment, but leaving disaster in her wake. While Lord Horatio Nelson was mortally wounded, he was informed that he led them to a great victory, with 25 enemy ships already captured or sunk.
In 1787 the HMS Bounty was purchased by the Admiralty and recommissioned to sail halfway around the world to Tahiti to collect sapling breadfuit trees and transport them to the West Indies. Owners of the burgeoning British plantations there needed a cheap source of food for the workers. To lead mission on the HMS Bounty, the Admiralty picked 33 year old Lt. William Bligh. After arriving in Tahiti, 10 months after leaving England, Bligh and the crew set about collecting the more than 1,000 breadfruit plants they were to take to the Caribbean. They spent five months in Tahiti, during which time Bligh allowed many of the crew to live ashore. Without the discipline and rigid schedules of the sea, the men went native. When time came to return to England, some were already contemplating staying on the island. Two weeks out of Tahiti, miserable with having left the Tahitian wife he took while there, First Mate Fletcher Christian took the ship. Of the 44 men on board, 31 sided with Bligh. Of the 31, 18 went over the side to be set adrift in the longboat with Bligh. The mutineers in the HMS Bounty then set off for Tahiti, where they put the rest of the sailors loyal to Bligh ashore, picked up their Tahitian wives, girlfriends and several Tahitian men, and set off to hide forever from the long arm of the British law. Bligh navigated the longboat 3,600 miles to safety in 41 days using only a sextant and a pocket watch. Only one man died -- stoned to death by angry natives on the first island they tried to land on. The voyage was a feat of navigation that is unparalleled to this day. The mutineers eventually settled on Pitcairn Island, an isolated rock in the South Pacific that was misplaced on British charts. They burned the ship in Bounty Bay and weren't found for 25 years. After all but one of the mutineers had been killed by either each other or the Tahitian men they brought with them, the last one, Alexander Smith, began rebuilding a society on the island based on the ship's bible. Today their descendants still live there in a moralistic society that still only sees one ship every six months.
In 1768 Lieutenant James Cook, Royal Navy, set sail on HMS Endeavour on a voyage of exploration and scientific investigation and through his journeys, Cook is considered to be one of the greatest explorers. In 1770 Cook reached New Zealand where he circumnavigated and completely charted the north and south islands before continuing west. In April, he sighted the east coast of Australia and sailed north along the coast before anchoring in what he named Botany Bay. He then continued north to Cape York and on to Jakarta and Indonesia. During the four months voyage along the coast Cook charted the coastline from Victoria to Queensland and proclaimed the eastern part of the continent for Great Britain. Cook was the first person to accurately chart a substantial part of the coastline of Australia and to fix the continent in relation to known waters. His explorations of Australia were followed up within a few years by a British expedition to settle the "new" continent. Accordingly, Cook is considered a major figure in Australias modern history. Numerous places in Australia, particularly on the east Australian coast and New Zealand, have been named after him or his vessel, and many of the names he gave to parts of the Australian east coast in 1770 are still used (e.g. Cape Tribulation, Botany Bay, the Whitsunday’s). Cooks 1768-1771 voyages in HMS Endeavour is also considered to be of general historical importance because of its great contributions to the worlds knowledge of seamanship and navigation, as well as geography. On his voyages Cook became the first captain to calculate his longitudinal position with accuracy, using a complex mathematical formula developed in the 1760s. He was also the first to substantially reduce scurvy among his crew, a serious, sometimes fatal result of dietary deficiency on long voyages.
The most powerful and largest ship in the world at the time of her construction, The Sovereign Of The Seas was truly a masterpiece in action. Also known as Man of War, this stunning and massive ship was the most lavishly decorated warship of the Elite Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1637 by King Charles I, King of England, she was built essentially to stroke his expanded ego and become his showpiece. Built in East Boston, Massachusetts this magnificent warship was a sight not to be forgotten when seen sailing on the open seas. The tremendous amount of construction that went into building the Sovereign Of The Seas took over three long years and over one thousand skilled craftsmen to complete. The significant amounts money spent for her extravagant decoration helped to create the financial crisis King Charles I experienced, contributing to the English Civil War. The Sovereign Of The Seas mastered the seas unmatched for sixty years and is still today marveled upon as a true work of art, and known as one of the most beautiful ships to have ever set sail.
Designed for speed, the sleek and swift HMS Harvey was built in Baltimore in 1847. Designed after the early model clippers, this incredible ship had two masts. In later years with the need for increased speed and volume on the clippers, the ships evolved into three masts and four thousand square meters of sail. With the discovery of California as an incredibly wealthy state, and the ensuing rush, ships like the HMS Harvey became very popular for their magnificent speed. There incredible speed allowed the journey from New York to California to be completed in as little as eighty-nine days. The design of the ships hull, with its multiple sails and uncluttered deck enabled it to travel with tremendous speed, and still allow maximum cargo space. The HMS Harvey’s main cargo was hemp used to make rope for the rigging of ships. Other cargos were so valuable; their armaments were retained to handle any pirates they may come across. The usual journey for the HMS Harvey was thru the Horn, as the Panama Canal had not yet been constructed. Because of this route and all of the traffic the HMS Harvey and other clippers brought to the area, they were essential in the enormous growth of the western costal cities like San Francisco.
The Cutty Sark was launched on November 22, 1869, in Dumbarton on the Scottish Clyde. She was built to carry tea in the China Run. Due to a new hull shape that was stronger, could take more sail and be driven harder than any other, the Cutty Sark was the fastest ship taking the Cape of Good Hope Route. Her name comes from Robert Burns' poem, Tam O' Shanter. Tam meets a group of witches, most of whom are ugly, but for Nannie, who is young and beautiful and is described as wearing only a "cutty sark" (a short chemise torn shirt). Although her early years under her first master, Captain George Moodie, saw some sterling performances, fate was to thwart her owner's hopes of glory in the tea trade: in the very same year of her launching, the Suez Canal was opened, allowing steamers to reach the Far East via the Mediterranean, a shorter and quicker route not accessible to sailing ships, whose freights eventually fell so much that the tea trade was no longer profitable. So Cutty Sark's involvement in the China run was short lived, her last cargo of tea being carried in 1877. For the next several years, the Cutty Sark was forced to seek cargoes where she could get them, and it was not until 1885 that she began the second (and more illustrious) stage of her career. The ship's heyday was in the Australian wool trade, which was overseen by Captain Richard Woodget, from 1885 to 1895.
The Royal Louis belonged to the French Royal Navy fleet in 1779. She sailed the seas with confidence and pride as the largest and most powerful first-rank ship of the French line. Substantially larger than the Dutch or English ships of similar power, she donned 120 s and a crew of over 1200 men. Under the command of a Squadron Admiral, she sailed the seas intimidating all who crossed her path with her gargantuan size and forbidding power. With a crew of over 1200 men it was necessary to be able to carry a large amount of supplies for the sailors. The Royal Louis with her massive size and storage was able to carry large amounts of stores for the crew enabling her to serve as a comfortable and well-stocked sailing vessel. Being one of the very few first rate ships to carry bronze 48 pounders, she earned her title as the most powerful and largest ship of the French fleet at that time.
Built in Brest, the massive and stunning Le Saint Esprit was launched in 1765. This fierce battleship served for ten long years, sailing the seas with pride and a very powerful presence. The Le Saint Esprit with her 80 brutal and menacing guns was a magnificent French vessel and an intimidating and threatening ship to cross on the open seas, frightening any who crossed her path. Commanded by Captain Boze this spectacular and colossal ship was home and work to a crew of more than 710 brave men and distinguished officers. While part of the Fleet of de Grasse, this 80-gun French sailing vessel played a decisive role in the Yorktown victory. De Grasse led the majority of his naval forces to the coast off of Virginia where the historical surrender of Cornwallis began. The Le Saint Esprit was one of the important ships that played a role in the well-known piece of history. She contributed by driving off the British fleet. After driving off the British, a Franco-American force of 16,000 troops besieged Cornwallis. Outnumber, outgunned and running out of food, Cornwallis soon realized their was no way out of this battle that would befall he and his soldiers with a victorious conclusion. He finally surrendered his army of 7,157 on October 19, 1781. This surrender of Yorktown would be the final in the War for American Independence, ending the fighting that had continued for years.
The San Felipe Launched in 1690, was one of the most beautiful Spanish ships of the 17th century. She was the lead ship of the Spanish Armada and displaced more than 1000 tons and was armed with 96 cannons, enabling her to take on the most formidable ships in the French and British navies. San Felipe's role in the war against the British and French was to help protect Spanish settlements and harbors, to transport treasures, and to safeguard the long and hazardous passage back to Spanish ports. In 1705, she participated in a furious and heroic battle between 12 Spanish ships and 35 British ships. After 24 hours of battle, she was captured by an English ship, but was so badly damaged that she could not be salvaged as a prize. She went to the bottom with several tons of gold.
The Wasa of 1628 was the most ornately decorated vessel of her time. She was commissioned by the King of Sweden and was this country's finest warship. During construction, the King insisted that the ship be fitted with a second row of cannon. This made it top-heavy and she sunk just 20 minutes after her launch. She was raised from the ocean in 1956 and now resides, fully restored, in the Stockholm Naval Museum.
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On January 11, 1784 El Cazador sailed from Vera Cruz, Mexico for New Orleans carrying 450,000 pesos of silver Reales. The vessel and its crew disappeared into the winter sea, sinking without a trace. The Spanish needed this shipment to stabilized the weak monetary system in colonial North America. Spain lost Louisiana to Frances Napoleon, who sold It to the United States. On August 2, 1993, the shipwreck of El Cazador was accidentally discovered by Capt. Jerry Murphy of the fishing vessel "Mistake".
Drake or Dreki is the name of the Scandinavian boats (the drake, usually the ornament of the bow), known between 700 and 1’000 AD. Made of oak (boards piled up like slate ). It is a kind of whale fishing-boat and has a very solid shape with a length of appox. 75ft and a width of 15ft. It was used with sails and oars by the frightful Vikings.
A junk is a boat used in China. Junks usually have around two or three sails but sometimes have four. Each mast is made of bamboo. Bamboo is used because it is so strong that you don’t need very many ropes. Very large junks (about 150 meters or 492 feet long) are usually used for worldwide trips. An average sized junk usually carries food from city to city. The first Chinese junks were built in the Song dynasty between 960-1270. Later, in 1271-1368 a Mongol emperor built the first Chinese imperial treasure fleets. These junks sailed to Sumatra, Ceylon, and southern India. The famous explorer, Marco Polo journeyed to the Mongol court and described seeing four-masted junks that had sixty cabins for merchants and crews of up to 300. About six centuries ago, the Chinese built huge armadas of junks that sailed to Ceylon, Arabia, and East Africa. The fleet had huge nine-masted junks that were over 400 feet long and 150 feet wide or 122 meters long and 46 meters wide. There were 27,000 crew members and soldiers in the armada! These junks were escorted by water tankers, supply ships, ships for cavalry horses, and patrol boats. The armada sailed to ports around the Indian Ocean and traded Chinese silk, porcelain, and lacquerware for spices, ivory, medicines, and pearls. Then between 1405-1433, treasure fleets sailed out seven times to trade with other countries. They traded from Taiwan to the Persian Gulf. Historians believe that at this time the Chinese were ready to colonize the world. However, all overseas trade was banned in the 1500s. Throughout Chinas history, junks were also used as war ships. Believe it or not, today many families live on junks. These families often use the junk as a way of making money.
Corsair Pirate Ship:
With its square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft sails on its main mast, the brigantine was fast, easy to maneuver and had twice the cargo space of a sloop. No wonder it became the favorite vessel of pirates of the Caribbean. A typical brigantine carried as many as 100 pirates and mounted enough cannon to intimidate any possible target.
With its square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft sails on its main mast, the brigantine was fast, easy to maneuver and had twice the cargo space of a sloop. No wonder it became the favorite vessel of pirates of the Caribbean. A typical brigantine carried as many as 100 pirates and mounted enough cannon to intimidate any possible target.
Privateers:
Piracy in the Caribbean came out of the interplay of larger international trends and the use of privateers was especially popular. The cost of maintaining a fleet to defend the colonies was beyond national governments of the 16th and 17th centuries. Private vessels would be commissioned into a 'navy', paid with a substantial share of whatever they could capture from enemy ships and settlements, the rest going to the crown. These ships would operate independently or as a fleet and if successful the rewards could be great —this substantial profit made privateering something of a regular line of business; wealthy businessmen or nobles would be quite willing to finance this legitimized piracy in return for a share. The sale of captured goods was a boost to colonial economies as well.
Piracy in the Caribbean came out of the interplay of larger international trends and the use of privateers was especially popular. The cost of maintaining a fleet to defend the colonies was beyond national governments of the 16th and 17th centuries. Private vessels would be commissioned into a 'navy', paid with a substantial share of whatever they could capture from enemy ships and settlements, the rest going to the crown. These ships would operate independently or as a fleet and if successful the rewards could be great —this substantial profit made privateering something of a regular line of business; wealthy businessmen or nobles would be quite willing to finance this legitimized piracy in return for a share. The sale of captured goods was a boost to colonial economies as well.
Buccaneers:
Specific to the Caribbean were pirates termed buccaneers which arrived in the 1630s. The original buccaneers were escapees from the colonies; forced to survive with little support, they had to be skilled at boat construction, sailing, and hunting. These skills transferred well into being a pirate. They operated with the partial support of the non-Spanish colonies and until the 1700s their activities were legal, or partially legal and there were irregular amnesties from all nations.
Specific to the Caribbean were pirates termed buccaneers which arrived in the 1630s. The original buccaneers were escapees from the colonies; forced to survive with little support, they had to be skilled at boat construction, sailing, and hunting. These skills transferred well into being a pirate. They operated with the partial support of the non-Spanish colonies and until the 1700s their activities were legal, or partially legal and there were irregular amnesties from all nations.
Traditionally buccaneers had a number of peculiarities. Their crews operated as a democracy: the captain was elected by the crew and they could vote to replace him. The captain had to be a leader and a fighter—in combat he was expected to be fighting with his men, not directing operations from a distance. Spoils were evenly divided into shares; when the officers had a greater number of shares, it was because they took greater risks or had special skills. Often the crews would sail without wages—"on account"—and the spoils would be built up over a course of months before being divided. There was a strong esprit de corps among pirates. This allowed them to win sea battles: they typically outmanned trade vessels by a large ratio. There was also for some time a social insurance system, guaranteeing money or gold for battle wounds at a worked-out scale.
In combat they were considered ferocious and were reputed to be experts with flintlock weapons, but these were so unreliable that they were not in widespread military use before the 1670s.
The end of the classic age of Piracy:
The decline of piracy in the Caribbean paralleled the decline of mercenaries and the rise of national armies in Europe. Following the end of the Thirty Years' War national power expanded. Armies were codified and brought under Royal control and privateering was largely ended; the navies were expanded and their mission was stretched to cover combating piracy. The elimination of piracy from European waters expanded to the Caribbean in the 1700s, West Africa and North America by the 1710s and by the 1720s even the Indian Ocean was a difficult location for pirates.
Sea-going Mediterranean peoples greatly favoured xebecs as corsairs, and for this purpose built them with a narrow floor to achieve a higher speed than their victims, but with a considerable beam in order to enable them to carry an extensive ssail-plan. The lateen rig of the xebec allowed for the ship to sail close hauled to the wind often giving it an advantage in pursuit or escape. The use of oars or sweeps allowed the xebec to approach vessels who were becalmed. When used as corsairs they carried a crew of 300 to 400 men and mounted perhaps 16 to 40 guns according to size. In peacetime operations, the xebec could transport merchandise.
Battleships
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The USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is the lead ship of the two Blue Ridge-class command ships of the U.S. Navy. She is the third Navy ship named after the Blue Ridge Mountains, a range of mountains in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. The USS Blue Ridge was commissioned on 14 November 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as a command and control ship for the Navy. With accommodations for more than 200 officers and 1200 enlisted men, the ship provides all the services of a small town. From 1971 until 1979, the Blue Ridge operated from San Diego, California, where she deployed to the Western Pacific, earning the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Navy Unit Commendation for the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. Since October 1979, the Blue Ridge has been forward-deployed at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan as the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet. The Blue Ridge participates routinely in U.S. and allied training exercise each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The Blue Ridge performed a nine-and-one-half month deployment as flagship for the Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 through 24 April 1991, for which the warship earned another Navy Unit Commendation. The Blue Ridge frequently makes port calls throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean including Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. She made her historic port visit to Shanghai, China in 1989, 2001 and again in 2004. She also visited Vladivostok, Russia, in 1996, 2003 and 2006. The ship has been cited for rescues of refugees and merchant vessel sailors. The Blue Ridge left Laem Chabang Port after a short visit to Asian University in Chonburi, Thailand on 7 May 2008, and docked in Manila, Philippines on 22 May for a 3 day goodwill visit, and also, for her crew to help construct Gawad Kalinga homes.
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USS Sims
USS Sims (DD-409) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship to be named for William Sims, an admiral who pushed for the modernization of the Navy. Sims was laid down on 15 July 1937 by Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine; launched on 8 April 1939; sponsored by Mrs. William S. Sims; and commissioned on 1 August 1939, Lieutenant Commander W. A. Griswold in command.
.Bismarck
The German battleship Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the Second World War. The lead ship of her class and named after the 19th century German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Bismarck displaced more than 50,000 tonnes fully loaded and was the largest warship then commissioned. Bismarck only took part in one operation during her brief career. She and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen left Gotenhafen (Gdynia) on the morning of 19 May, 1941 for Operation Rheinübung, during which she was to have attempted to intercept and destroy convoys in transit between North America and Great Britain. When Bismarck and Prinz Eugen attempted to break out into the Atlantic, the two ships were discovered by the Royal Navy and brought to battle in the Denmark Strait. During the short engagement, the British battlecruiser HMS Hood, flagship of the Home Fleet and pride of the Royal Navy, was sunk after several minutes of firing. In response, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the order to "Sink the Bismarck",[2] spurring a relentless pursuit by the Royal Navy. Two days later, with Bismarck almost in reach of safer waters, Fleet Air Arm aircraft launched from the carrier HMS Ark Royal torpedoed the ship and jammed her rudder, allowing heavy British units to catch up with her. In the ensuing battle on the morning of 27 May, 1941, Bismarck was heavily attacked for nearly three hours before sinking.
Cruise Ships and Ocean Liners
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Titanic
Titanic named by J.BRUCE ISMAY, was built in March 1909. In May 1911, she was launched, which was a heavily publicized spectacle. Titanic was designed to be a marvel of modern safety technology and her accommodations were the most modern and luxurious on any ocean. She was 883 feet long (1/6 of a mile), 92 feet wide and weighed 46,328 tons. She was 104 feet tall from keel to bridge, almost 35 feet of which were below the waterline. She was capable of carrying over 3500 peple (passenger, crew). Unfortunately, at 11:40 p.m on the 14th April 1912, the greatest maritime disaster in history began. During that night of heroism, terror and tragedy, 705 lives were saved, 1502 lives were lost, and many legends were born.
On April 10, 1912, Titanic departed at Noon from Southampton, England, narrowly escaping collision as Titanics propeller suction snapped the mooring lines of another ship (American Line, New York First Stop: April 10, 1912, at 7:00 p.m., Cherbourg, France Second Stop: April 11, 1912, at 12:30 p.m. in Queenstown, Ireland. Departed at 2:00 p.m. for non-stop voyage to New York City Hit Iceberg: April 14, 1912, at 11:40 p.m. Distress: April 15, 1912, at 12:15 a.m. first wireless call for help 12:45 a.m.: First lifeboat lowered 2:05 a.m.: Last lifeboat leaves ship 2:20 a.m.: Titanic breaks in two and sinks 3:30 a.m.: Rockets from Cunard liner Carpathia sighted from Titanics lifeboats 8:30 a.m.:. Last lifeboat of Titanic survivors rescued by Carpathia 8:50 a.m. Carpathia heads for New York with 705 survivors aboard.
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SS United States
The SS United States (also known as "The Big U") is an ocean liner built in 1952 for the United States Lines. At 53,329 gross tons, she is the largest ocean liner to date built entirely in the United States and still holds the record for the fastest westbound transatlantic crossing. In 1952, on her maiden voyage as the new flagship of the United States Lines, the United States captured the Blue Riband with the fastest eastbound and westbound transatlantic crossings on record (11 July–15 July, 3 days, 12 hours, 12 minutes). The entry of the United States marked the first time since the Baltic a century earlier that a U.S.-flagged ship held the Blue Riband, surpassing European speed records which had stood for decades. The United States lost the eastbound record in 1990, but still holds the westbound record, and remains the fastest ocean liner to cross in either direction. The United States plied the transatlantic with passenger service until 1969, and she outlasted the demise of her original owners. The ship is currently docked in Philadelphia until a decision is made about her fate.
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Oil Rig Supply Boat / Anchor Hauling Tug
Mermaid Supporter
Year built: 2001, 45m long, Horse Power: 4800. Vessel Type: AHTS. Managed by Mermaid Marine, Australia.
Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels can supply oil platforms, tow them to location, anchor them up and, in a few cases, serve as an Emergency Rescue and Recovery Vessel (ERRV).
AHTS differ in the most part from Platform Supply Vessels (PSV's) as they are fitted with winches for towing and anchor handling and have an open stern to allow the decking of anchors, plus more power to increase the bollard pull.
The Washington State Ferries originated in the early 1900s. The early ferrries were steamer ships known as the "Mosquito Fleet." In 1929, the industry consolidated into 2 different companies. After World war II, labor costs made ferry systems very challenging to operate. By the late 1940s, this brought ferry services to a halt. The state of Washington recognized that ferries were the life line of many communities that heavily depended on ferry services.
The Staten Island Ferry provides 20 million people a year (60,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan.
The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. NYC DOT operates and maintains the nine vessel fleet as well as the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island, Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, the City Island and Hart Island Facilities, The Battery Maritime Building and all floating dock building equipment.
The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it "One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages."
From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.
A typical weekday schedule involves the use of five boats to transport approximately 60,000 passengers daily (109 daily trips). During the day, between rush hours, boats are regularly fueled and maintenance work is performed. Terminals are cleaned around the clock and routine terminal maintenance is performed on the day shift. On weekends, three boats are used (75 trips each Saturday and 68 trips each Sunday).
Over 35,000 trips are made annually..
The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. NYC DOT operates and maintains the nine vessel fleet as well as the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island, Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, the City Island and Hart Island Facilities, The Battery Maritime Building and all floating dock building equipment.
The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it "One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages."
From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.
A typical weekday schedule involves the use of five boats to transport approximately 60,000 passengers daily (109 daily trips). During the day, between rush hours, boats are regularly fueled and maintenance work is performed. Terminals are cleaned around the clock and routine terminal maintenance is performed on the day shift. On weekends, three boats are used (75 trips each Saturday and 68 trips each Sunday).
Over 35,000 trips are made annually..
She was America's Cup Collection U.S. Defender in 1964. Another S&S, the Constellation Yacht was a beautifully, elegant made boat that was selected, over the American Eagle, as the cub defender. The small yacht had a very significant build that set the standard for future yacht design. Although the design was not very appreciated for the Newport conditions. In 1983, the Australia II lifted took the cup.
Shamrock
The most celebrated yachtsman ever to challenge for the America's Cup was the self-made millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton. Born to an Irish grocer in a Glasgow tenement, Lipton mounted the first of his five challenges under the auspices of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in 1898.
His William Fife-designed cutter Shamrock, the first challenger not to cross the Atlantic under its own power, lost to J. Pierpont Morgan's Columbia (designed by Nat Herreshoff) in three races. Gracious in defeat, Lipton was made an honorary member of the New York Yacht Club.
Two years later, his George Watson-designed Shamrock II lost three races on corrected time to Columbia, though the margins were negligible and she actually crossed the line ahead by two seconds in the second race.
The extreme limits of racing design were reached in 1903, when Fife's Shamrock III was pitted against Herreshoff's Reliance. The race conditions were mediocre, but in the contest between sail areas, Shamrock's 14,154 square feet were no match for Reliance's 17,730 square feet. These were the last America's Cup races for almost two decades, and when they resumed in 1920 it was with smaller yachts built to Herreshoff's International Rule. Shamrock IV and Resolute, both built before World War I, had the most exciting race series held to that time, and Shamrock IV won the first two of five races by decisive margins. The rules changed yet again and the 1930 America's Cup races were the first of three between yachts designed to the J-class rule. The celebrated J-boats with their lofty rigs, Bermuda rigs, and Park Avenue booms were between 75 and 87 feet in length, with sail areas between 7,550 and 7,583 square feet, though this included three headsails—jib, jig, and topsail jib. Shamrock V was no match for Resolute, which was chosen from among four trial boats, and she lost the series in four straight races. So ended the racing career of Sir Thomas Lipton, "the world's best loser," who died the next year at the age of eighty-one. Shamrock V was next purchased by T. O. M. Sopwith, who used her as a trial horse for his Endeavours in 1933 (Rainbow vs. Endeavour) and 1937 (Ranger vs. Endeavour II). Shamrock V subsequently changed hands several times. An auxiliary diesel engine was installed and she was at one time rigged as a cruising ketch. While owned by the Immobiliare SIFI Spa in Sardinia, she was named Quadrifoglio, Italian for "shamrock." In the 1980s, she was acquired and restored to her original rig by the Museum of Yachting in Newport, Rhode Island, where she is maintained in sailing condition.
The most celebrated yachtsman ever to challenge for the America's Cup was the self-made millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton. Born to an Irish grocer in a Glasgow tenement, Lipton mounted the first of his five challenges under the auspices of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in 1898.
His William Fife-designed cutter Shamrock, the first challenger not to cross the Atlantic under its own power, lost to J. Pierpont Morgan's Columbia (designed by Nat Herreshoff) in three races. Gracious in defeat, Lipton was made an honorary member of the New York Yacht Club.
Two years later, his George Watson-designed Shamrock II lost three races on corrected time to Columbia, though the margins were negligible and she actually crossed the line ahead by two seconds in the second race.
The extreme limits of racing design were reached in 1903, when Fife's Shamrock III was pitted against Herreshoff's Reliance. The race conditions were mediocre, but in the contest between sail areas, Shamrock's 14,154 square feet were no match for Reliance's 17,730 square feet. These were the last America's Cup races for almost two decades, and when they resumed in 1920 it was with smaller yachts built to Herreshoff's International Rule. Shamrock IV and Resolute, both built before World War I, had the most exciting race series held to that time, and Shamrock IV won the first two of five races by decisive margins. The rules changed yet again and the 1930 America's Cup races were the first of three between yachts designed to the J-class rule. The celebrated J-boats with their lofty rigs, Bermuda rigs, and Park Avenue booms were between 75 and 87 feet in length, with sail areas between 7,550 and 7,583 square feet, though this included three headsails—jib, jig, and topsail jib. Shamrock V was no match for Resolute, which was chosen from among four trial boats, and she lost the series in four straight races. So ended the racing career of Sir Thomas Lipton, "the world's best loser," who died the next year at the age of eighty-one. Shamrock V was next purchased by T. O. M. Sopwith, who used her as a trial horse for his Endeavours in 1933 (Rainbow vs. Endeavour) and 1937 (Ranger vs. Endeavour II). Shamrock V subsequently changed hands several times. An auxiliary diesel engine was installed and she was at one time rigged as a cruising ketch. While owned by the Immobiliare SIFI Spa in Sardinia, she was named Quadrifoglio, Italian for "shamrock." In the 1980s, she was acquired and restored to her original rig by the Museum of Yachting in Newport, Rhode Island, where she is maintained in sailing condition.
Defender
The racing yacht Defender was created by America's renowned designer Nat Herreshoff in 1895 to meet the America's Cup challenge of an Irish aristocrat, Lord Dunraven. The challenger was Valkyrie III, built in Glasgow, Scotland. She was the latest of a series of sleek, fast boats with a great press of sail which Lord Dunraven had commissioned to win the Cup for Great Britain. Defender measured just under 90 feet at the waterline and displaced just under 100 tons. Contributing to her speed was an exceptionally smooth hull made of a special heat-rolled bronze. Her underside was cut away drastically to reduce total surface area in contact with the water and increase speed. And she carried the greatest spread of sail yet seen in American racing. The race was conducted off Sandy Hook, N.J. In the first contest, Valkyrie pulled ahead at the start and led for more than an hour. But Defender proved herself faster under fresh breeze conditions and went on to win. Going into the second race, Dunraven protested the presence of an unruly mob of spectator boats, but the race went off. As the two yachts approached the starting line an excursion steamer drove between the contenders. Valkyrie dodged to avoid collision, but her boom struck Defender, bringing down the topmast. Her crew quickly repaired the damage and continued the race under protest, only to finish two minutes behind. Dunraven argued that Valkyrie was far enough ahead to own the right of way and should be awarded the victory. However, the race committee ruled against him. Acting then out of pique, he caused Valkyrie to cross the starting line for the third race only to pull down her colors. Defender sailed the course alone to win the race by default.
The America
The America was a 19th century racing yacht which gave its name to the international sailing trophy it first won -- the America's Cup. The schooner was designed by George Steers for Commodore John Cox Stevens and a syndicate from the New York Yacht Club. On August 22, 1851, the America won by over 20 minutes the Royal Yacht Squadron's 53 mile regatta around the Isle of Wight, capturing the "One Hundred Sovereign Cup." Watching the race, Queen Victoria asked who was second, and received the famous reply: "There is no second, your Majesty."
The America was a 19th century racing yacht which gave its name to the international sailing trophy it first won -- the America's Cup. The schooner was designed by George Steers for Commodore John Cox Stevens and a syndicate from the New York Yacht Club. On August 22, 1851, the America won by over 20 minutes the Royal Yacht Squadron's 53 mile regatta around the Isle of Wight, capturing the "One Hundred Sovereign Cup." Watching the race, Queen Victoria asked who was second, and received the famous reply: "There is no second, your Majesty."
Columbia was chosen to represent the New York Yacht Club in the America's Cup challenge race of 1899. Designed by Nathan Herreshoff, she played a major role in the evolution of racing yachts. The Columbia was much more than just a fast sloop; she was pure racing machine. She possessed a deep, heavy keel weighted with 90 tons of ballast to stabilize her hull, undercut to reduce her drag in the water. Her bow and stern sloped sharply upwards to gain water line length (and thus speed) when she was heeled over. She employed many weight-saving innovations in her hull structure. In 1899, she accepted the challenge of Sir Thomas Lipton who was determined to retake the cup for Britain. She took on the Shamrock, a long, lean beauty with a fearsome reputation for speed. Under gale conditions, Columbia proved her mettle to win three straight races by huge margins. She repeated her victory against Shamrock II in 1901.
The three-masted topsail schooner Atlantic was one of twelve vessels which competed for the 1905 Emperor’s Cup, a prize put up by Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm for a race between New York and the Lizard (the extreme tip of Cornwall). Atlantic won the cup by achieving a time of twelve days and four hours. In one 24-hour period she ran 348 nautical miles. She was taken up by the US Navy in both world wars and was eventually acquired by the US Coast Guard Academy. Although the Atlantic was built as a racing craft, she had a stateroom accommodation for seven people.
Endeavour was hailed as the most beautiful J-Class yacht ever built. She was the best and most impressive sailboat that Britain ever built to race in America’s Cup series. Endeavour had speed as well as beauty.
Built in 1933 by T.O.M. Sopwith, the undisputed leader of the British aircraft industry, Endeavour possessed many new and innovative devices, including below-deck winches, new sail designs, and an improved spinnaker. Even with an amateur crew, she came closer to winning the Cup than any other challenger up to that time. Endeavour was a faster yacht than her contender Rainbow. She beat Rainbow the first two races. However, the American team was a much finer crew and defeated Endeavour all next three races by out-thinking her captain. In the third race, as a direct result of Vanderbilt, the skipper of "Rainbow", failing to pull away, the yachts almost collided when Endeavour had right of way. Sopwith raised the protest flag after the race in accordance to British rules. The race committee however dismissed the protest as the American rules stated the protest flag is to be flown at the time of the foul. This prompted a British writer to comment, "Britannia rules the waves, but America waives the rules."
When Endeavour returned to England she continued to dominate the British racing scene until 1938 when she was laid up for the duration of World War II. Saved by Elizabeth Meyer of New Port, RI, today she is one of the most breathtaking sights on the water. To take helm of such a yacht is to experience pure power, grace, and speed.
Built in 1933 by T.O.M. Sopwith, the undisputed leader of the British aircraft industry, Endeavour possessed many new and innovative devices, including below-deck winches, new sail designs, and an improved spinnaker. Even with an amateur crew, she came closer to winning the Cup than any other challenger up to that time. Endeavour was a faster yacht than her contender Rainbow. She beat Rainbow the first two races. However, the American team was a much finer crew and defeated Endeavour all next three races by out-thinking her captain. In the third race, as a direct result of Vanderbilt, the skipper of "Rainbow", failing to pull away, the yachts almost collided when Endeavour had right of way. Sopwith raised the protest flag after the race in accordance to British rules. The race committee however dismissed the protest as the American rules stated the protest flag is to be flown at the time of the foul. This prompted a British writer to comment, "Britannia rules the waves, but America waives the rules."
When Endeavour returned to England she continued to dominate the British racing scene until 1938 when she was laid up for the duration of World War II. Saved by Elizabeth Meyer of New Port, RI, today she is one of the most breathtaking sights on the water. To take helm of such a yacht is to experience pure power, grace, and speed.
Bluenose
Bluenose was launched at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on March 26, 1921, as both a working cod-fishing schooner and a racing ship. This was in response to a Nova Scotian ship's defeat in a race for working schooners established by the Halifax Herald newspaper in 1920. After a season fishing on the Grand Banks, Bluenose defeated the ship Elsie from Gloucester, Massachusetts, returning the trophy to Nova Scotia. During the next 17 years of racing no challenger, American or Canadian, could wrest the trophy from her.
Bluenose was launched at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on March 26, 1921, as both a working cod-fishing schooner and a racing ship. This was in response to a Nova Scotian ship's defeat in a race for working schooners established by the Halifax Herald newspaper in 1920. After a season fishing on the Grand Banks, Bluenose defeated the ship Elsie from Gloucester, Massachusetts, returning the trophy to Nova Scotia. During the next 17 years of racing no challenger, American or Canadian, could wrest the trophy from her.
Speed Boats
Chris Craft Typhoon
The history of the Typhoon began in1929 with the inspiration of her mastermind, Edsel Ford. An avid race boat enthusiast, he was inspired when he saw the famous Teaser speedboat in action and decided he would have one built for his own racing and excitement. Contacting George Crouch, the designer of the Typhoon, he requested an exact copy. George designed and constructed the Typhoon at the same yard that her predecessor the Teaser was built. Edsel Ford never used the Typhoon as a pure racer. However, being the sizeable boat she was, measuring 40’ in length with a 2000 cubic inch Wright engine, she was more than capable. He used her primarily for transportation between the Ford plant and his home in Lake St. Claire. Howard Hughes, the subsequent owner of the Typhoon, purchased her in 1941 from Ford. He kept her operational during the war years but sold her soon after the war ended. After being sold to a few various owners, the typhoon ended up in Kentucky. She was then shipped to Seattle Washington in the late 1960’s. Here, at Bryants Marina in Washington, a fire began on her neighboring dock. The fire burned out of control, destroying the Typhoon. With this wooden ship replica of the Typhoon you can reinvent the excitement and legend of this magnificent racer.
Chris Craft Cobra
Post World War II, in the 1950’s, people were experimenting with economic recovery. Spending money on luxury items as opposed to only practical needs became the trend. The Chris Craft Cobra was the Craft’s way of keeping up with the luxurious demands. In 1955 only 108 Chris Craft Cobras were constructed. As of today only 80 have been recovered, with the rest continuing to be elusive to collectors. With popular cars becoming large, colorful and stylish, the boat designers began experimenting with fiberglass. Chris Craft had a long history of using mahogany to construct their double planked boats. Their use of fiberglass evolved from using it first to construct corners in the cabin that were too difficult to construct from wood. In 1954 Chris Craft built their first boat section designed of fiberglass; a sculpted dorsal fin on the Cobra. The Cobra was not the first finned boat on the market; however they combined mahogany and plastic with class and style. With its single seat this was a speed and sport boat, not a family affair. Production of the Cobra was cancelled after only a year due to a somewhat negative reaction. However the Craft’s believed it did a wonderful job attracting buyers into the showroom who then purchased more practical models.
Chris Craft Riva Aquarama
Riva of Italy, the world-renowned boat manufacturer, known for producing the most luxurious and elegant wooden boats, introduced the infamous Aquarama series in 1962. These incredibly impressive boats featured a powerful bi-motor engine. With such performance while at the same time sporting top of the line and innovative elegance and charm, she is compared in the boat world to a Rolls Royce or Ferrari of the automotive world. The unforgettable Aquarama is an extremely elegant and memorably unique motorboat that has become a worldwide legend never to be left behind. Her extraordinary style and superb craftsmanship truly are a work art that will always hold a place in history as well as a place in the hearts of boat lovers worldwide. The magnificent Aquarama has become for many the quintessential essence and image of a motorboat. Remaining in production for many years, the Riva Aquarama was produced in 1996. Also known as the “Rolls-Royce of the Sea”, this boat was 8.75 m long, and powered by a 320 horsepower engine. Reaching incredible speeds as high as 90km/hr, it undoubtedly was a boat that was unmatched with exceptional speed and performance. The Riva Aquarama series was in a class of its own, becoming an object of desire and legend worldwide that continues into the present day.
