Federal authorities say there does not appear to be any criminal act in Saturday’s Staten Island Ferry crash.

After initial interviews with the crew, the National Transportation Safety Board says the crew of the “Andrew J. Barberi” acted properly.

According to the Department of Transportation, investigations so far have revealed that the captain was on the hull, and not at the wheel, during the hard landing. Instead, the assistant captain was in control of the boat.

After completing their first full day on the scene Sunday, the NTSB says no engine alarms sounded before the Andrew J. Barberi crashed into the pier, injuring 37 of the 252 people on board.

The city’s DOT has said that Saturday’s accident appears to be a result of mechanical failure, but the NTSB says at this point nothing has been ruled out.

 The NTSB will spend as long as a week collecting evidence. They’re looking into the ferry’s navigation and propulsion systems and will review surveillance video of the crash.

Federal authorities also plan to question passengers who were on board at the time of the crash.

After completing their work at the scene, the seven-member team will return to Washington to analyze the data.

It could take them up to a year and a half to determine the cause of the accident.

Following the crash, the U.S. Coast Guard also took the Barberi’s sister ship out of service as a precaution. However, the Samuel I. Newhouse has passed inspection and will resume carrying passengers.

The Andrew J. Barberi is the same boat that crashed in 2003, killing 11 people. Pilot error was blamed for the cause of that incident.

(Source: NY1)