RISING TIDE OF FERRY CANCELLATIONS
What’s going on with SeaStreak, the ferry that runs between Manhattan and piers in Atlantic Highlands and Highlands?
Yesterday, a handful of runs were canceled. The ferry company attributed the moves to delays in obtaining “certification of documentation for the SeaStreak Wall Street,” meaning one of its catamarans.
Today and tomorrow, more cancelations have been announced.
Tomorrow’s 5:50a out of Atlantic Highlands and the 7:30a out of Sandy Hook Bay Marina in Highlands have been canceled; the 6a out of Conner’s Landing in Highlands will leave 10 minutes later than usual, the company said in an alert.
Three morning departures from Manhattan were also canceled.
The Asbury Park Press was out on the pier at Highlands this morning, where some commuters were grumbling about uneven service in recent months.
Separately, the newspaper reported that Sea Containers Ltd. of Bermuda, the ferry’s parent company, had failed to come to terms with the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago for a possible sale of the service’s four vessels. Sea Containers has been in bankruptcy protection since 2006, though the ferry service was said to be unaffected.
Last we heard, in mid-December, Rumson billionaire Mickey Gooch was leading a group exploring a possible purchase of the service. Gooch is the founder of a Wall Street firm and owns the Two River Times with his wife, Diane.
The Press said Gooch was unavailable for comment yesterday.