WORLD SHIP SOCIETY

On Saturday, Sept. 25th, 14 PONY Branch members and guests embarked on our first in-person event since February 2020 — a cruise around NY Harbor aboard Sea Scout Ship 228’s SEA DART II, a 1953 ex-U.S. Army Higgins T-Boat. Departing from the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island under sunny skies, we sailed past the Staten Island Ferry maintenance facility where much of the iconic orange fleet was on display, and continued up the Hudson River. Past PONY Branch Chairman Ted Scull provided narration as we viewed the ever-changing New York skyline, waterfront landmarks including several historic railroad terminals, and NCL’s NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY preparing for her first post-pandemic cruise from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. Entering the Harlem River at Spuyten Duyvil and then proceeding up the East River through the Hell Gate, the SEA DART II passed under many of New York City’s historic bridges en route to the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx. After tying up adjacent to the training ship EMPIRE STATE VI (built in 1962 as States Lines’ SS OREGON), the group was treated to an exclusive tour of the extensive maritime history exhibits and model ship collection at the college’s Maritime Industry Museum led by the museum’s chairman, Captain James McNamara. With the day drawing to a close, we set sail down the East River, encountering a wide variety of harbor craft and ocean-going vessels as we returned to our starting point on Staten Island.

(Photo: Stuart Gewirtzman)