Page 44: of Marine News Magazine (June 2005)

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they could. New York's most tragic day was also one of its finest, as its mariners collectively rallied an effective response to the unimaginable. But within the Harvey's role in particular there were resonances, things people could read as metaphors and parables as they wished, ranging from the abandonment by the city of perfectly good equipment, to a maritime reprisal of the little engine that could.

The fireboat's proprietors are privately reserved about their minutes of fame. They're glad to have helped, but wish they hadn't had to. Still, their website (www.fire- boat.org) leads-off with a fund-raising plea attributed to

The New York Times: "A fireboat that pumped water to firefighters for 80 hours at the World Trade Center during and after Sept. 11, and became the focus of a children's book, is now itself in need of help."

Fundraising requires marketing, and marketing requires simplicity. Plenty of vessels in seeking support come up with a soundbyte to define their immortality.

The old cutter Tamaroa, stationed for decades within sight of the Harvey, could point to a thousand noble deeds performed in careers as a Navy ATF and Coast

Guard WMEC, but it's her heroics in "The Perfect Storm" - the book and the movie - that get the headlines. When the tug Hay-De returns, she could possibly be robed in her own movie stardom, as a set and a prop in the early 90s feature, "Billy Bathgate." So far as is known, no other ex-railroad tug has had Bruce Willis and Dustin

Hoffman both aboard, with Nicole Kidman lounging in a stateroom that would do the QM2 proud.

Movie stardom may not have much to do with mar- itime preservation, but it works. (It works for park plan- ners, too. New York City Parks Commissioner

Bernadette Castro, who is also a director of the Hudson

River Park, "is fondly remembered by millions as the lit- tle girl opening the Castro Convertible on television," according to the Hudson River Park website. "The com- mercial ran over 40,000 times, earning her the distinction of being 'the most televised child in America.'")

The Harvey's soundbyte has one added dimension: her latest heroics took place in retirement. If somebody had- n't decided to save the boat and restore her in the first place, that contribution would not have been made.

Flying Dutchman's Fleet?

New York lost the Tamaroa to Baltimore, after years of languishing at the Manhattan shore. Individuals and groups petitioned her owner, the Hudson River Park, for the privilege of boarding, fixing, closing-up the doors.

They were rebuffed. They included individuals active in the North River Historic Ship Society. They included individuals active in the Harvey. They do not have such a bright view of the record of the Hudson River Park. "The park plan calls for piers for historic vessels,"

Huntley Gill reports. "Where are they?" John Krevey's movable feast, bought with his own money, is the only dedicated resource - and the park legislation specifically calls for its removal (Basketball City is fighting the evic- tion). "There's a grass and trees mentality," says Mr.

Krevey of people who dislike the sight of rusty old boats, or even shiny new boats. Says Huntley Gill, "there are people who won't be happy until the New York water- front is all sandy beaches." A boat-restoration colony would not seem to fit that esthetic. Nobody really knows what would happen if some inspired real-estate develop- er erected a gated community for motorheads, with machine shops and toolsheds as common as bodegas. ButCircle 245 on Reader Service Card ®

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HISTORYTHE YEARBOOK 44 • MarineNews • June, 2005

OSHA, where were you when we really needed you? 1931-vintage electrical control panel is one of two in Harvey's engine room, this one to control the pumps. It says "Danger" twice. A larger one aft controls the propulsion motors, and has even more of Dr. Franken- stein's exposed switches. (Photo: Don Sutherland)

August 29, 2001, the Harvey's pumps drive a festive display through the air, for public admiration and amusement. One dozen days later, those pumps were fighting fires again. (Photo: Don Sutherland)

The Harvey's broad engine room is packed with machinery, includ- ing five main diesels and two auxiliaries, pumps, and much unique equipment. The owners recently bought two Fairbanks-Morse OPs for parts, and welcome contributions of equipment and supplies. (Photo: Don Sutherland)

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