Bridge

Depressing as hell

aye the stories that could be told

Cool spotlight.

It's saddening to imagine how al the people who once were there, with hopes and dreams, who could see and think and breathe are now all probably long gone, and this rotting listless ship is left as the last decaying link between them. :(

It is so beautiful. It is the end of everything and the band played on as the people danced joyously unaware......

maybe that spot light still works?

The site where all these hulks are located, Witte's Yard, is located on the Arthur Kill, on the west side of Staten Island. This a junk yard. These vessels are old, worn out, blown engines, tanks, built during or before WW II, just plain outlived their usefullness. However, some of the various parts are still useable: generator parts, crankshafts from engines, searchlights, all of these things could be used on another vessel for restoration, to replace another worn out part. The family owning this site has made a small fortune over the years and someday they will be told clean it up and/or get out of town. Just like a auto junk yard, it's "not in my backyard!"

Hello CaptainS. Granted what you say is on some level accuate, what parts are still good on a vessel like the one represented by this photo (an excellent photo by the way) "Bridge"? It does not seem to make sense to allow the good parts to settle into the mud. Once the goodies were gone why weren'tn't the shells scrapped out? Surely the yard has the means to do this.

I'd hate to see my boat end up like this. Extremely sad, but a good shot nonetheless.

There lie the remains of the USS PC 1264 quite a famous little WWII sub chaser. If you have the time look up its history.

FBJim, Again you are all over it!

http://www.history.nav...n/usnsh-p/pc1264.htm

Even with the vantage of having seen these vessels prior to such decay, I am amazed you can provide so much for our edification.
Any chance you could work your magic here? http://www.opacity.us/image2980_hull.htm The distinct "funky" nature of this style of hull (reinforcement) sparks my curiosity.

Amazing. The last two pictures of this craft on the Naval Historical Center show the bridge and spotlight and they're still there.

The sense I get from these series of photos is how quiet these dead ships must be. A working ship is alive with sound: engines throbbing, ventilation systems blowing; pumps, motors and florescent lights humming, and the staccato sound of deck sailors chipping off rust and old paint with pneumatic and hand hammers. You don't notice it until it stops. For USS PC 1264 it has been stilled forever.

I doubt there was a whole lot of dancing on any of these ships. From what I see, most are work boats: tugs, tankers, ferries, etc. Sorry if I burst any of the imaginative bubbles going on out there! These were no Poseidons or Titanics...

For Steve Ray, actually there were some noises on these boats, a brass snap on an old rope would tap against a mast or side of a boat, when it got hot a ventilator would run from the hot air rising, I guess in time rust will stop all these noises but in the 70s there were sounds to be heard, and sometimes they scared you.

old ship, rust, laying on its starboard side, grave

Just looking at the before pictures and seeing all the men who were on it, and then seeing it in this picture just gives it an erie feeling. So neat.

sad when the ocean takes back what it supported

Are their any pictures of PC 1217 available and are either boat salvageable. Thanks it brings back memories of a great life aboard ship for my dad.

Does anyone know whether either PC 1217 / PC 1264 would be for sale thru Witte Marina. I would spend the money just to preserve one of these ships. Any information would be greatly appreciated 1-508-376-1196.

There are some ships that I would like to preserve because some of the ships look really cool. Some of the ships look like they are over a hundred years old. Some of the ships are pieces of history. That is why I would like to preserve some of the ships if I could. The boat looks like it has been there for a long time. The bridge of the boat looks safe enough to explore.

The only one PC still afoad is currently in The netherlands, Europe. PC1610 better know as P641 Escorteur Cotier Le Fougueux. See our website www.fougueux.nl or www.p641.com
Last weekeind we re inslalled 2x 40mm bofors

I see land Captain!

My father served on PC 1217, as a Pharmacist Mate. He just passed away on 6/16/07. Are there any other crew, or crew families, around?

Sorry for your lost.

oh well its just a boat

Does anyone know if contact information is available for Witte Marina regarding both USS PC 1217 and 1264. I would be interested in whether the marina would be interested in selling the better of both ships for the purpose of preservation / restoration. Any information would be greatly apprecitated. dodgewc63@yahoo.com

You would accually find away to restore these ships. I would be very tricky, old medal, rotten wood, pointy objects, and dead fish.

Good luck man. I wish the best of luck. (In a good way not a mean way)

Does Witte/DonJon allow access to the yard?

When I was a kid, I skipped school and listened to my walkman until the batteries went dead while exploring these wrecks. The pics are great. Also had some keg parties near by. Brings back memories. Thanks.

anyone out there served on the PC 1239

My father served aboard USS PC 1239 as a SF 3/c from 1942-1946. Ship was lost during Typhoon Louise on Okinawa September 1945.

Last PC still afload is the PC1610 currently in The Netherlands . www.p641.com

For what she done, what she proved along with her crew how be it this is her fate. She should have been remembered in granduer like some of the other thought famous. From from her , U.S.S. Mason, and there crews made way for me and my brother a family of Fire Control Technicians to be. I feel no joy in seeing this after doing my internet research failing to find almost nothing about the crew of U.S.S. Mason, or U.S.S. PC-1264 for a Black History Program but anyone who reads this I will tell of these ships acomplishments if just a small group of people will see but there is little information nor write up if you have send to me . Don't let the memeory of something good die. atlsailor@yahoo.com

Does anyone know if the graveyard is still there? There are rumors that the site has been substantially cleaned up.

Like everything else, time is slowly taking the wrecks away, Witte Marine ran the yard for many years and slowly cut up boats but many that were sunk stayed where they were. Every ;winter and every storm eating away at the remains. In the 70s complete boats were there, now only the heavy metal of the hulls and boilers and engines remain, mostly under water. It is a cemetery of sorts, so much history was here, history of New York Harbor, NYC ferrys and fireboats, fireboats that responded to the GENERAL SLOCOM fire and the NORMANDIE fire as well as dozens of Railroad tugs, barges, lighters, derricks ect. Now these work boats of the harbor sit quietly being eaten up by the water they worked in. let them kind of "rust" in peace.