This excerpt should get you interested:

“The city was held responsible for the accident because there was a breach of protocol in the wheelhouse of the ferry: two captains are supposed to be present at all times and at the time of the accident only one was. Two men being held responsible for the accident are serving prison time after pleading guilty to negligent manslaughter.”

See:

http://ny-law-firm.com/new-york-law-blog/accidents/102/staten-island-ferry-accident