State sinks $500K into bad boat Ferry boat for Governors Island development project found to be junk
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Friday, February 20, 2009
ALBANY A ferry boat for New York Harbor, purchased by taxpayers for $500,000, has turned out to be a useless rusting hulk officials are now desperately trying to sell on eBay.
Top bid so far: $14,800.
New York taxpayers bought the boat, called the Islander, in August 2007. After decades of trips between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts authority had put it up for auction.
"We were the winning bidder," said Jon Meyers, director of real estate for the Governors Island Preservation & Education Corp. He added that the state got the boat for $250,000 less than the asking price from the Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole Steamship Authority.
Just when you think you've heard it all! Did we really need this ferry?? Really?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
$23,600 top bid for $500K state ferry Don Slovak of Valatie says rusted vessel could be sold or scrapped
By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau First published in print: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ALBANY — A Valatie farmer made his biggest purchase ever on eBay on Monday when his winning bid of $23,600 earned him a ferry the state paid $500,000 for but never used.
Don Slovak, the operator of Slovak Farms and Slovak Auto Transport, won the Islander after 19 bidders made 58 bids over the 10-day auction conducted by the Office of General Services on the online auction site. The state purchased the ferry at auction in August 2007 from the Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard Steamship Authority, hoping that it would the state-run Governors Island Preservation and Education Corp. planned to begin using the craft this year.
"I feel I got a great deal," Slovak said Tuesday.
OGS spokesman Brad Maione said Slovak has already posted a deposit of $3,000. He is expected to pick up the rusted vessel from New York Harbor in the next couple of weeks.
Its future, Slovak said, is uncertain: "I don't know if we'll sell it whole or scrap it," he said.
He said there may be some interested buyers in Costa Rica or the Dominican Republic. Those nations don't face U.S. Coast Guard seaworthiness standards, Slovak noted. Costs to get the ferry in shape for U.S. waters would run at least $6 million.
The GIPEC, a unit of Empire State Development Corp., bought the ferry after using a consultant to help in due diligence, said Jon Meyers, GIPEC's director of real estate. He could not recall the name of the consultant or the cost of the service. He said the corporation had a short window to inspect the craft — three weeks — before it had to bid on it in the summer of 2007.
After the vessel arrived in Manhattan, it became clear repair costs were prohibitive.
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