Having undergone the necessary repairs after it got badly damaged, hitting into a pier on May 8, a New York City (NYC) ferry - Andrew J. Barberi - was put back into service Sunday morning, with a 9:30 a.m. run from Staten Island to Manhattan.

The service of the seemingly crash-prone Staten Island ferry was withdrawn after the May crash, in which 48 people were hurt. Earlier too, back in October 2003, the ferry had crashed after its pilot passed put at the wheel – the crash that time round resulted in 11 casualties. 

According to federal investigators, it was apparently because of a defective part that led to the May 8 crash of the ferry at the Staten Island terminal. Specifically speaking, the National Transportation Safety Board said that, as per the tests, the propulsion system of the ferry failed to respond properly; thereby leading to the crash.

The problem was solved by replacing the defective components; and the ferry was brought back to its scheduled route. Despite some apprehensions being voiced about the ferry being seemingly jinxed, most passengers clearly remained undaunted; and intrepidly rode the ferry after it returned on Sunday. 

Boarding the ferry on its first ‘return’ trip, Staten Island’s Lester Squires, a retired NYPD detective, said: “We have to live our lives. If you go about things worrying about what you can't control, that's senseless.”