Clearwater Mechanical Issue Stymies Irvington Students' Field Trip

IRVINGTON, NY — The sloop Clearwater is back in action after a mechanical issue caused a field trip with Main Street School fifth-graders to be cut short.

There were 37 passengers onboard Monday, September 12, when the captain discovered that the engine would not start and they wouldn’t be able to get back to the dock on time.

A spokeswoman for the Clearwater said Captain Aleythea Dolstad followed protocol and set the anchor near the Yonkers dock and out of the shipping lane.

She then called for assistance from the Westchester County Police and Palisades Park Police to assist in ferrying the passengers back to the dock.

Irvington school district Superintendent Dr. Kristopher Harrison said the class of fifth-graders were on the Clearwater as part of their study of the Hudson River.

“Student safety was our top priority throughout the entire experience and at no time were students or staff in danger,” he said in a prepared statement.

“Our chaperones and the Clearwater staff kept students engaged during the event,” Harrison said. “We remained in contact with the students’ parents to keep them abreast of all details.”

A class trip for Tuesday was suspended.

The U.S. Coast Guard inspected the repair Tuesday and cleared the sloop to sail with passengers, which resumed in the afternoon.

Clearwater’s Interim Executive Director Dave Conover apologized for the inconvenience to the students.

“Our onboard educators and crew did a great job ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone on board during the unfortunate delay,” he said.

“The kids sang songs and played games as they waited to be ferried back to the dock,” Conover said. “The boat and the passengers were never in danger.”

Photo credit: Clearwater.