Islander's
final destination remains uncertain
Bidding on
eBay for the former Steamship Authority (SSA) ferry Islander began at $10 on
February 13 and ended at 9 am, Monday. The final, winning bid was $23,600. The new
owner of the ferry that served the Vineyard route for 57 years is Don Slovak, a
farmer and trucker from the town of Valatie, N. Y., just east of the Hudson
River and about 15 miles south of Albany. It was no
sentimental purchase. Mr. Slovak, who owns a 100-acre farm where he raises
fruits and vegetables and an auto transport business, has never seen the ferry
up close. In a telephone conversation with The Martha's Vineyard Times he said
he has also never visited the Island, but added, "I was told it's pretty
nice." Instead, he
liked what he saw and read on eBay and decided to speculate and see what
happens. Given the price and the downward slide of the stock market, it may turn
out to be a good investment, he hopes. "I thought it was just salvage when
I originally read the report" said Mr. Slovak. "But there's a lot of
good stuff on the boat, and I've got some interest from people in other
countries." He said he
has a few weeks to move the ferry. The engines and generators are still in
working condition and would allow him to move it up the Hudson River once the
ice melts. Asked if he
liked boats, Mr. Slovak said he has had a few but never had the time to do much
with them. "This is definitely the biggest boat I've ever owned," he
said. The
Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), the corporation
responsible for Governors Island in New York City, purchased the 770-passenger,
half-century-old ferry for $500,000 in July 2007. GIPEC put the ferry on the
Internet auction block rather than pay millions for needed maintenance. |