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Mary A. Whalen on the move in New YorkMary A. Whalen on the move in New York

Around New York shipping events, if you mention the long-retired harbor tanker “Mary A. Whalen” , built in1938, you will get two responses.

Barry Parker, New York Correspondent

May 25, 2015

1 Min Read
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Old mariners will say something like: “I was the mate on her…” and shipping attorneys will say “Oh, I remember that case from law school.” Famously, in a case that went to the US Supreme Court, the tanker grounded in the Rockaway Channel, near JFK Airport at Christmas-time, 1968. There was no spill, but the US Coast Guard was apportioned with a part of the repair bill- because of the failure of a light it should have maintained.

GardnerStephenWhalen2009bowview1.jpgThe vessel’s owner, the non-profit community group Portside New York, announced that the vessel will be moving this week to a pier at the Atlantic Basin (a one time general cargo terminal) in Red Hook, Brooklyn. At this location, the public will have easy access to educational and cultural programmes. According to Carolina Salguero- a one-time photojournalist who runs Portside New York, “The first set of events will include Saturday daytime TankerTours, Sunday daytime TankerTime with maritime board games and a Sunday evening picnic aboard the vessel.”

Rick Spilman, well known for his The Old Salt Blog said: “The tanker Mary A. Whalen is a vital bridge between our past and future. She is an important reminder of our maritime heritage -- of the rough and boisterous years when tugs, steam ships and tankers, like the Mary A. Whalen, plied the harbor and our coastal waters. Now, as the last of her kind, the historic ship provides a glimpse of a sustainable future through the varied programmes of PortSide New York.”

About the Author

Barry Parker

New York Correspondent

Barry Parker is a New York-based maritime specialist and writer, associated with Seatrade since 1980. His early work was in drybulk chartering, and in the early 1990s he moved into shipping finance where he served as a deal-maker and analyst with a leading maritime merchant bank. Since the late 1990s he has worked for a group of select clients on various maritime projects, also remaining active as a writer.

Barry Parker is the author of an Eco-tanker study for CLSA and a presentation to the Baltic Exchange Freight Market User Group on the arbitrage of tanker FFAs with listed tanker equities.

 

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