A rusting behemoth sits on Newtown Creek. This is the MV Schamonchi. Once a proud ferry shuttling tourists between Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford this vessel now rests in a far less glamorous setting. The Schamonchi a 130-foot 270-ton ship built in Maine in 1978 plied the waters for over two decades. It carried hundreds of passengers. Summer Sundays on its deck were filled with laughter and the sounds of live music. The ferry’s horn would echo across the water. Its arrival was always a welcome event.
The Schamonchi’s New York City chapter is a far cry from its former life. Sold in 2005 for a mere $105,000 the Schamonchi arrived in New York with a new purpose. It was meant to become a party boat. That plan never fully materialized. Instead it became a haven for artists and “off-the-grid types”. It became known as a symbol of the clash between environmentalists artists and heavy industry. A fight for control of the waterway it inhabits.
Life aboard the Schamonchi was unique. Residents described a vibrant community. Metal fabricators filmmakers writers even a satellite launching entrepreneur all called this floating space home. It became a hub for creativity and even hosted Burning Man-style raves. The Schamonchi was a unique community space. Yet this unique environment came with challenges. Reports described the ship as smelling of cat urine and being a “squatter-style crash pad”. The Schamonchi was slowly sinking. It stayed afloat only because of constant pumping. The polluted creek did not help matters.
The Schamonchi’s future remains uncertain. Repair costs are high. The ship needs a new roof or rather a new bottom. The current owners want it removed. One possibility is sinking it off the coast of New Jersey to become an artificial reef. That would be a sad end for a vessel that survived Hurricane Sandy. A storm that left it perched on its side at a 30-degree angle. It dropped 30 feet back into the water. The Schamonchi’s story is a reminder of impermanence and transformation. Its future remains uncertain. It stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of a community. It is a place where creativity thrived in an unlikely setting. The MV Schamonchi is a story waiting to be written.