South Ferry dedicated the Southern Cross with a small gathering Sunday aboard the new boat before the first official crossing to North Haven.
Father Peter DeSanctis of Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church administered a blessing for the vessel and all who travel on her. John Moore, the minister of the East End Church of Christ, offered thanks for world where “steel floats on water and makes islands less islands.”
South Ferry President Cliff Clark had nothing but praise for the new vessel, which brings to five the number of boats in the fleet. In remarks to the small gathering of invitees (who all wore masks and practiced social distancing) he singled out for particular appreciation three members of the South Ferry team: Chief Engineer Joe Clark, Project Supervisor Michael Early and Maintenance Foreman Liam Schultz.
Together the three worked closely with Blount Boats of Rhode Island as it built the new ferry, and they piloted it to its new home here. Learn more about the vessel in this Gazette post about its arrival from Blount Boats in Rhode Island.
Honoring a fallen soldier
By design the first voyage coincided with a Memorial Day tradition, the annual presentation by the Sag Harbor VFW of a wreath for placement on the Lt. Joe Theinert. Dave Clark, commander of Shelter Island’s American Legion Mitchell Post 281, joined in placing the wreath.
The Lt. Joe Theinert was originally christened the Southern Cross, but was renamed in honor of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Joseph J. Theinert of Shelter Island and Sag Harbor who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010 at age 24. Joey had worked as a deck hand for South Ferry.
