Passengers injured as Seastreak ferry slams into NYC dock

JANUARY 9, 2013 — New York City media report that as many as 50 people have been hurt after a Seastreak ferry, the Seastreak Wall Street, slammed into the mooring as it was coming in to Pier 11 at South Street and Gouverneur Lane. Police and fire officials said 30 to 50 people were hurt, one critically with head injuries.

Passenger Richard Correra told CBS 2 that all of a sudden “the boat felt like it smashed into a wall’ and that “dozens of passengers got thrown out of their seats, got thrown forward. Some were heading downstairs and just flew down the stairs and hit their heads on various poles and walls.”

CBS says that a gash could be seen on a front corner of the boat and that “it looked like it had been ripped open like a tin can.”

An NTSB Go Team is on its way to the accident scene. The NTSB says it will be the lead investigative agency in this accident.

NTSB marine safety investigator Morgan Turrell is leading a team of 12 as the investigator-in-charge. NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesman during the on-scene phase of the investigation.

Seastreak issued the following statement:

We regret to report that the SeaStreak Wall Street struck Pier 11 near Wall Street while docking this morning at approximately 8:45 a.m.
 
The vessel’s crew immediately initiated emergency response procedures and authorities responded quickly due to the location. A number of passengers were injured.  Some were treated by first responders and some have been taken to local hospitals.
 
Seastreak’s incident response team is on scene. Company management is working closely with emergency responders, including the New York Fire and Police departments to treat the injured and to respond to the situation.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with those that were injured. Seastreak LLC will work closely with the Federal, State and local authorities to determine the cause of the accident.
 
Further information will be distributed as it becomes available.