New York Harbor School – Downtown Magazine

Pat Foye, the Executive Director of the Port Authority during his speech on-board the Lettie G. Howard.

Administrators, teachers, students and parents from the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School shared the infectious passion that drives each of them—their love for the sea, with Downtown residents at a special event at Pier 25 on Monday May 12th.

The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, New York Harbor Foundation and South Street Seaport Museum took part in the event which put a spotlight on the work of the high school students to restore the historic Seaport vessel, the 121-year-old Lettie G. Howard and provide guests with vessel tours.

The Port Authority awarded $50,000 to the New York Harbor Foundation to help fund the restoration of the vessel as an educational exercise, giving the students the chance to get a hands-on experience they won’t ever forget.

The event marked the official launching of the “Two States, One Port,” a joint collaboration among the New York Harbor School, Port Authority and South Street Seaport Museum, with a specific goal of exposing and engaging students in the maritime operations of New York City.

“The future and resiliency of our port operations depend on the expertise of our next generation of maritime managers and leaders,’’ said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. “That’s why we’ve chosen to support this worthwhile program for students so they can serve as future ambassadors for the East Coast’s busiest port.”

The Harbor School opened its doors in September, 2003 as New York City’s only maritime high school and seeks to graduate students equipped with the skills and experience to become tomorrow’s port industry managers. The school’s students cultivated skills in managing the Lettie, as they seek to restore the vessel as an integral curriculum component.

“We are working hard. We want to inspire people,” said Maya Perkins, a happy student of the New York Harbor School.

The students of the New York Harbor School on board their favorite school project.

“The big take-home message is that we want a tangible and symbolic way to unite this port that is between two states,” said Murray Fisher, co-founder of the New York Harbor School and President of the New York Harbor Foundation.

But this wasn’t the only message Fisher wanted to pass on about the program. “This port cannot be just about commerce and it can’t be just about nature,” he said. “It’s a harbor. And a harbor includes the commercial human element and the natural estuary element. It needs to be a place where we have continuing flourishing commerce in the port but then also have flourishing wild life and that the ecosystem gets stronger at the same time. That’s the really hard work of managing this port. And you have to train young people for it.”

And with the training came a valuable history lesson, along with others about teamwork.

“The Lettie G. Howard is a very special historic vessel with a very important role to play in the lives of these young people,” said South Street Seaport Museum Interim President Captain Jonathan Boulware. “There are lessons learned aboard a sail training vessel that are not easily learned anywhere else: unique teamwork and leadership lessons. It’s a good program for the students, a good one for the vessel, and exemplifies the very best in maritime education, a critical theme for the Seaport Museum.”

From now on Lettie G. Howard will be used for education purposes. When additional funding is secured, the school plans on utilizing the vessel for events such as Chesapeake Bay and Gloucester Schooner Days at the end of August, where students will sail the vessel alongside other schools from up and down the East Coast.

Purchased by the South Street Seaport Museum in 1968, Lettie — a 125-foot-long Gloucester fishing schooner — was designated a national historic landmark in 1989 and served as the sail-training vessel of Harbor School, traveling throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey and along the East Coast from 2003 to 2010.

-Xavi Ocaña.

The Letti G. Howard vessel is put back in service with help from the kids from The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School .

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It has been a long two years coming, but Pier 15 is back in business.

Recovered and rejuvenated, since its battering from SuperStorm Sandy, the Pier has reopened to the public on the East River Waterfront. Making the occasion doubly festive was the launch of Hornblower Cruises & Events which offers river dining, sightseeing, entertainment and educational cruises against the beautiful backdrop of New York City.

The pier is a gleaming new destination on the East River Esplanade, drawing praise from community residents and leaders as a sign of the area’s full recovery from the devastating 2012 storm.

The city leased the pier to Hornblower Cruises in early 2012, and the company was lauded by Community Board 1 Chair Catherine McVay-Hughes for remaining committed to the location even after it suffered extensive damage from the natural disaster.

“It’s important that the East River Esplanade and Pier 15 are properly maintained,” Hughes told the large crowd which gathered to celebrate the Pier’s return to active duty and to welcome Hornblower Cruises to the neighborhood. The company is expected to generate 100 new jobs, helping to respond to the economic shortfalls caused by the storm. Several shops and restaurants, including the Seaport Museum, are still closed and under repair.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Councilwoman Margaret Chin, new Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin and DOWNTOWN Magazine CEO and President, Grace A. Capobianco.

“The launch of Hornblower’s operations at Pier 15 is an exciting milestone of the East River Waterfront Esplanade project,” said Zachary Smith, Chief Operating Officer of the NYCEDC. “By creating new amenities and increasing access we are making New York City’s waterfront a place everyone can enjoy.”

In response to the anticipated increase in activity as a result of the pier’s revitalization, the city’s tourism department, NYC & Company has set up a new visitor center at the pier. Visitors will be able to access of information screens, concierge terminals, and digital touch screen kiosks that will provide up-to-date information on attractions, nightlife activities and any other hot spot that are exploration worthy for tourists in any of the five boroughs.

“We couldn’t think of a better place—or better partners—for our newest Official NYC Information Center location,” said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company President and CEO. ” We’re confident that this partnership will provide visitors with a richer and more dynamic experience in the Seaport and Lower Manhattan.”

Hornblower will also partner with the city’s official maritime public school, The New York Harbor School to offer courses on boating safety and pier maintenance.

Currently, the schools students are working on a project to cleanse The East River called “The Billion Oysters Project.” The goal is to transport large numbers of oysters into the river to provide a natural filtration system, making it a more popular recreational body of water.