NEW YORK - Darrel Stokes is a deckhand on the NYC Ferry McShiny, making a final check off the stern or rear of the boat, and letting the Captain know it’s okay to proceed with the East River route that travels from Wall Street to Brooklyn and back to Manhattan's east side.

"Look to make sure there is no debris that is floating around in case he backs up, and then his propellers are there,” Stokes said.

It's just one of the duties of a deckhand on the NYC Ferry's fleet of 28 vessels, growing to 38 by March 2021. Stokes welcomes passengers, keeps an accurate count to make sure the boat is not over capacity, and most of all keeps everyone safe.

For Stokes, his journey started in Cooking school believe it or not which lead to a job cooking on three month long training voyages for cadets at the State University of New York Maritime College in the Bronx. He then worked for 15 years on tugboats. The Upper West Side native left that world after growing tired of what he called a sometimes secluded lifestyle; he is now enjoying ferry life.

"I'm around people. That's what I wanted to be around. Because I'm a people person,” said Stokes.

Captain Travis Mueller is a SUNY Maritime Grad who took the helm after starting his career as a deckhand with NYC Ferry. 

"Every day is different. It's not the same thing every day," Mueller said.

For the folks who work on the boat, one thing's for sure — the job gives them some of the best views in town.

"I just like the scenery. Never thought that I would be on a boat and like it, but after being on the water for so long, it became like second nature," said Stokes.