New York City High-Speed Ferry Grounds in Brooklyn

A New York City ferry with 125 people on board ran aground and began taking on water on Saturday in Brooklyn, New York.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York command center received a report that the 150-foot Seastreak ferry, Commodore, ran aground and was taking on water in Bushwick Inlet in Brooklyn, New York, at approximately 4:17 p.m.

The vessel was reported to have 118 passengers and seven crew-members aboard.

The Coast Guard, New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and New York City Police Department (NYPD) crews responded to the scene.

NYPD and FDNY safely evacuated all passengers and crew-members from the ferry, and Coast Guard Station New York members went aboard with FDNY members to conduct dewatering operations.

“The team effort between the Coast Guard and our local first responders including FDNY and NYPD harbor units allowed for the safe evacuation of all passengers,” said Capt. Zeita Merchant, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York. “The Coast Guard will now work with Seastreak on the investigation and inspection of the vessel to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

Coast Guard investigators are on scene investigating the cause of the grounding.

One crew member was reported to have non life-threatening injuries.

“It was a very smooth operation that just at the two-hour mark went under control,” said FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala from the scene. “We have a continuing de-watering operation. The vessel is taking on water and with the multiple agency effort including the @uscgnortheast, we are winning the battle to de-water the vessel. The salvage company is on the way, they should be here shortly, and they will determine the best and safest way to remove the vessel. One thing I can say on this hot afternoon, there were no injuries except for one member of the crew who has been removed to NYU hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”

The Seastreak Commodore is a high speed passenger ferry which entered service in New York harbor in 2018 as the the highest passenger capacity USCG K-class high-speed ferry in the United States. The vessel is 150 feet in length and has capacity of 600 passengers and crew. Its service speed is 32 knots.