Bayonne Drydock & Repair

Boat hauler christened in memory of Staten Island hero who died of 9/11-related illness

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Gone, but certainly not forgotten.

On Friday, the Bayonne Drydock and Repair Corporation christened the Northeast’s largest mobile boat hauler in honor of the late-NYPD Detective Christopher Edward Cranston, a Staten Island resident who lost his life in July 2019 after a battle with 9/11-related illnesses.

Michael Cranston, Christopher’s Cranston’s brother and the founder and president of Bayonne Drydock and Repair Corporation, spoke glowingly about his late brother during the ceremony.

“My brother Christopher knew what it meant to serve his community in the Police Department and after the September 11, 2001 attack on our nation,” Cranston said. “We honor his memory with this christening and pledge to continue our work to serve vessels critical to our naval readiness and commercial success.”

Like thousands of other emergency responders, Cranston dropped everything and rushed to Ground Zero in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, after learning of the World Trade Center attacks.

For six months after, he sifted through rubble at the former Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, amid the deadly toxins that have since caused the death of more than 2,000 people years after the national tragedy.

Cranston, a former New Dorp resident, was diagnosed with cancer after retiring from the department in 2013, ultimately succumbing to his illness on July 20, 2019.

Cranston’s widow, Clare Cranston, attended Friday’s christening ceremony and was bestowed a plaque honoring her late husband’s service.

“My husband was a quiet man, and also, in my opinion, a humble man … He truly had a heart of gold,” she said. “It’s such an honor, and I know undoubtedly that he will be watching over and keeping all of you out there safe.”

The new $25 million mobile boat hauler, which is adorned with the name Christopher Edward, is capable of lifting ferries, tugboats, barges and other small vessels from the water in about an hour, allowing for quicker, more efficient repair work.

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole commended the company’s investment in the new mobile boat hauler and spoke to its importance in maintaining critical port operations.

“The Bayonne Drydock’s role in providing service to the various vessels that call on the Port of New York and New Jersey and the region helps make our seaport more attractive to our port partners and keeps our nation’s maritime fleet safe and ready to sail,” O’Toole said.

“Just as the Port Authority’s mission is to keep the region moving, this new boat hauler will improve the safety and efficiency of the users of our marine facilities and the neighboring waterfront,” he continued.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-New Jersey) noted the economic benefits associated with the new mobile boat hauler, which has already increased the Bayonne Drydock workforce by 20%, with the potential to scale up an additional 20% as demand for its service rises.

“Servicing ships more quickly and efficiently means more trade can move in and out of the port, and more good jobs will be created for New Jersey residents,” Sherrill said. “As a former Navy pilot, I know how essential it is to keep our naval vessels in top condition, and Bayonne Drydock is a critical player in that effort.”

Bayonne Mayor James Davis thanked the Cranston family for their service and sacrifice, referencing his own experiences in the aftermath of 9/11.

“I am honored to join with the Cranston family for today’s ceremony. Like Christopher Cranston, as a police officer, I took part in the emergency response at Ground Zero in 2001. It is fitting that the Northeast’s largest boat hauler will be named after him. Our community is proud that this boat lift will operate at the Bayonne Drydock, which is a great asset to our nation and our city,” Davis said.