Former volunteers with the U.S. Brig Niagara reacted to the reality that the flagship won’t sail at all this year, or even be a boardable dockside attraction.
These volunteers said it’s something they’ve feared since the start of the year, adding the longer the Niagara sits, the more uneasy people will grow.
As news of the U.S. Brig Niagara’s inactive service status broke on Wednesday, people who volunteered on the flagship and have been petitioning for a public forum with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Society (PHMC) to get a grip on their plans for months are sounding off.
In a statement given yesterday by PHMC officials, the status change was “standard procedure” before it goes to shipyard for maintenance and repairs.
Former volunteers with hands-on experience refute that claim, saying the only time it’s happened in recent memory was during the pandemic.
“The Niagara wasn’t able to operate and that was under special Coast Guard rules that no longer exist, and those rules were already changed back in 2020,” said Steven Perry, a former volunteer with Niagara. “So now hearing that this is just a normal occurrence when the only time we’re aware of this happening to the Niagara was due to COVID, I think that’s a huge stretch in that statement from PHMC.”
Back in February, we reported the first of what was expected to be many job postings for the Niagara, which was without a crew and captain at the start of the year.
It was a search for a shipwright, which as of April 30, the posting was closed, according to the Acting Western Division Chief of the PHMC, Tyler Gum.
We asked if the position was filled or not, but the only response we received was:
“The posting period for the shipwright position has closed and we are moving into the next stage of the hiring process.”
“So there’s still no captain, still no crew, they still have the cover on the ship and it’s already May. If they plan on taking the ship to shipyard, how’s that going to happen, and now they can’t do deck tours? Our concerns keep growing,” said Ginny Sivak, another former volunteer with the Niagara.
Both volunteers said if you’re concerned about the situation to reach out to local legislators.
“The state of Pennsylvania owns the Niagara. So if you’re a taxpayer, you own the Niagara and you deserve to know what’s going on with her instead of hearing things after the fact,” Perry said.
“I think if we continue to let them know that this is important to us that eventually it’ll sink in,” Sivak went on to say.
Volunteers added at this rate, they worry the Niagara won’t be ready to sail for the anticipated Tall Ships Festival next year.
Full statement from the PHMC:
Last week, PHMC hosted U.S. Coast Guard representatives from Buffalo, NY at the Erie Maritime Museum for a comprehensive review of planning related to U.S. Brig Niagara operations.
The discussion included plans for the Brig’s impending trip to shipyard as well as plans for long-term maintenance and future Niagara sailing programs. As a result of that meeting, the USCG has placed Niagara in “layup/inactive” status in preparation for shipyard as has been common practice in previous years.
Niagara’s current Certificate of Inspection as a sailing school vessel remains valid and once repair work is completed and approved by the USCG, Niagara will return to “active” status.
While in “layup/inactive” status, Niagara is not permitted under Coast Guard rules to host tours as a dockside attraction. PHMC fully anticipates the return of ship tours upon Niagara’s return from shipyard. PHMC looks forward to working closely with the USCG to address necessary maintenance and repairs, allowing Niagara to sail for decades to come.
