From the sea: A treasure of a story


By Diane Lore May 13, 2010, 12:27PM


Salvatore Quinto of Graniteville has just published his first children’s book, based on his work on a tug


STATEN ISLAND, NY - GRANITEVILLE - One day, when his 10- year-old daughter, Alexandra, asked her dad what he did at work, she gave Salvatore Quinto an idea: Write a children’s book that explains what he does for a living.


And that’s just what he did.


Quinto’s recently-published book, “Tug Boat Tommy,” is an illustrated story about the duties and tasks performed by a tug boat and its crew. “Tommy” is the captain, and along with “deck hand Dan” they explain for pint-size readers what tug boats are and how they help other ships dock safely.


Quinto himself is a merchant marine who has worked on ocean- going tug boats since 2007. He is employed by K-Sea Transportation Inc., based in Mariners Harbor, where he works aboard a tug named “The Viking.” It’s 127-feet long and has 5,000 horsepower engines.


"Tug Boat Tommy," is an illustrated story about the duties and tasks performed by a tug boat and its crew. "Tommy" is the captain, and along with "deck hand Dan" they explain for pint-size readers what tug boats are and how they help other ships dock safely. The book was written by Salvatore Quinto, of Graniteville. PHOTO COURTESY OF SALVATORE QUINTO


“We transport cargo fuel barges from New York to Louisiana and Texas,” he explained.


“I enjoy being at sea. It’s very peaceful. The ocean is a magnificent and mysterious wonder, and while I enjoy her, I also respect her,” he said, during an interview from his Graniteville home, where he was taking down-time between voyages.


Being a merchant marine


is a second career for 40-year-old Quinto, who worked for 15 years as a mail carrier with the US Postal Service. Working out of the Manor Road Post Office in Castleton Corners, his route included parts of Graniteville and Bulls Head.


“It was a good job, but I wanted to try a different challenge,” Quinto said. So he applied to the US Coast Guard for his merchant marine license and seaman’s clearance, and then signed up with Local 333 of the United Marine Division, the union representing merchant marine seamen.


He spends two-to-three weeks at a time at sea, before down time on land, which affords him the opportunity to tackle his writing.


“Writing is my first love,” said Quinto, who grew up in New Springville. He holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and creative writing from the College of Staten Island. “I write poetry, too. Originally I wanted to write screenplays, but it gets very involved, and I had to put that on the back burner,” he explained. “I do,


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