**Vessel Sculpture Reopens in Manhattan with Enhanced Safety Features**

Visitors once again flocked to Manhattan’s Vessel sculpture as it reopened for the first time in three years. Enhanced with new safety measures, the beehive-shaped structure, which features netting to reduce the risk of suicides, welcomed around 75 eager tourists on its reopening day.

The iconic metallic honeycomb, rising to about 150 feet (45 meters) at its peak, now boasts flexible netting that allows visitors to stick out their phones but not their bodies to capture the surrounding views. Alexandre Paes, a software engineer from Rio de Janeiro, expressed his admiration for the picturesque scenes both at ground level and atop the structure.

Initially opened in 2019, the Vessel's public access had been curtailed following multiple suicides, with measures such as security guards and restrictions on solo visits proving insufficient. Consequently, it closed again after a fourth tragic incident in 2021. The latest reopening on Monday introduced comprehensive floor-to-ceiling mesh barriers along the walkways and limited access to some of the higher levels.

Designed by Thomas Heatherwick and fabricated in Venice, the Vessel's safety issues were unforeseen by its creators and backers. "We wanted people to come here and have fun," said Andy Rosen, COO of Related Companies, which owns the Hudson Yards site.

Despite the increased safety measures, the sculpture managed to retain its interactive charm. Tourists were seen taking selfies and enjoying the dynamic light reflections off adjacent skyscrapers filtering through the structure’s hexagonal openings. "The netting is good, not only for safety but for people like myself that are afraid of heights," remarked Daniel Palumbo, visiting from Pennsville Township, New Jersey.

Rising from the ground like an elongated basket with zigzagging staircases, the Vessel’s accessible portions now allow visitors to reach the highest level via a single section adjacent to the structure's elevator. Although some visitors were disappointed by the obstruction of some views, the overall experience was still deemed unique.

Not all went smoothly on reopening day, however, as a malfunctioning elevator prevented some visitors from reaching higher levels, resulting in ticket refunds. Andrea Niño de Guzmán from Milwaukee shared her experience, noting that her cousin from Sweden, who was using a wheelchair, left after discovering the elevator was out of order and received a $10 ticket refund.

While some views were partially obstructed, the revamped Vessel continues to offer a distinctive and safer experience for its visitors.