[Mike P]

The NY media are laughably ignorant of maritime matters, so I wouldn't put too much stock in what is being reported in the papers.

Based on talking to people familiar with the operation of the SI Ferry, it traditionally has two fully licensed Masters who are also rated as Pilots on the route. All the boats are double-enders. By tradition, the "senior" captain rides in the Manhattan bound pilot house and the "assistant" captain rides in the Staten Island bound one. And I would imagine that there are regs that require other crewmen to be present on the bridge while the ferry is under way. Probably a minimum of a Mate and a deckhand. I've ridden these ferries hundreds of times, and from the passenger decks, it is very difficult to see into the wheelhouses, especially on the new Barbieri class vessels. Having seen photos of the layouts of thewheelhouse, it is definitely a two-man operation to dock one of these vessels, as the throttle and thruster controls aren't adjacent to the helm.

Any time I've ridden the SSA boats, there have been a minimum of 3 people on the bridge at all times. The Master, who usually doubles as the Pilot and has both ratings, a Mate, and an ordinary seaman who acts as helmsman enroute. Usually it's the Pilot who takes over the helm and docks the boat.