b'FOGHORNFOCUS: OPERATIONSInterstate Navigation Company had its first virtual vessel inspec- Virtual Inspection Workstion with Coast Guard marinefor Block Island Ferryinspectors earlier this year.USCG Marine Inspectors later visited the ferry for an onsite visit. Photo:During the novel coronavirus pandemic, Block Island Ferry the the U.S. Coast Guard is taking the unprecedented step of having nearly 90 percent of its staff working from home, which makes marine inspec-tions a challenge this year. Using a myriad of technological tools to their fullest advantage, Interstate Navigation Company, which operates the Block Island Ferry, and the Coast Guard successfully conducted a virtual inspection for the ferrys annual in-spection. Photographs and FaceTime video conferencing proved indispens-able for inspecting the vessel without the Coast Guards marine inspectors Interstate Navigation Company having to board the vessel. Passenger, Vehicle, Freight Ferry Myers and his team took four to five Narragansett, RI hours of video of the ferry Block Island, Interstate Navigation Company, Inc. operates the Block Island Ferry, offeringwhich was shared with marine in-year-round lifeline ferry service to Block Island, RI with its six vessels. Based inspectors who needed to see virtually Point Judith, RI, the operator offers both conventional ferry service as well aswhat theyd normally see in person. high-speed ferry service. The operation also has vehicle ferry service for passengerSpecifically, the virtual inspection vehicles, commercial trucks as well as shipping freight. showed the effectiveness of:Vessel operations manager Christian Chris Myers has been working through- Crew Testing Fire Equipmentout the pandemic because the ferry is essential to the people on Block Island.Test Pumping of16 Bilge SpacesIts a small community of 800 residents that rely on our ferry service for trans- Testing of 16 Fire Hosesportation and freight, Myers said. Since the coronavirus hit the U.S., havingTesting of Vehicle/Freight Deck Fire goods delivered to the island has become vital to the islanders. Nearly every day,Sprinkler Systemtrucks pull up to our dock with packages that we load onto the ferries to carry toAfter the on-camera inspection the people who need them. Were talking food, medicine, first aid and supplies,concluded, an-person inspection was you name it. Building materials and hardware store products are very popular. Ifscheduled to witness the ferry crew someone on Block Island needs it, we get it there.conduct safety and security drills, Myers said that the current schedule is based on community needs. After St.and machinery operation. The Coast Patricks Day in mid-March, ridership fell sharply. Town leaders on Block IslandGuard Marine Inspector attended the asked the ferry system to reduce the number of crossings because they wanted tovessel in-person, and boarded the limit the number of non-permanent residents from sheltering on the island duringferry to witness underway drills: the stay at home order. Many of the homes on Block Island are vacation/secondFire Drillshomes owned by people on the mainland, and for safety reasons, it was decidedMan Overboard Drillsby town officials to suggest to those people to stay away for the time being.Security DrillsWith traffic aboard the vessels, cleaning them has become a priority.Since we are still running, we are constantly cleaning and sanitizing ourCheck of 2500 Life Preserversvessels, Myers said. If its a touchable surface, we clean it. Overall, Myers believes the unortho-On May 5, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo declared face masks asdox method worked. Moving forward, essential when in public spaces. Myers said that the ferry is happy to comply.Myers believes its not out of the realm Wearing masks is required by all, particularly when theres a chance to interactof possibility that virtual inspections with someone else, he said.could become the new normal for in-The ferry operator is also encouraging its riders to practice social distancing atspecting passenger vessels.the terminal, on the dock, and aboard the ferry.It was a good project and it worked We have placed signs around reminding our passengers to social distancewell, said Myers. nthroughout the voyage, Myers said. We want everyoneferry workers and our customersto be as safe and healthy as possible.8JUNE 2020FOGHORN'