Runaway Cruise Ship Strikes New York Bridges

After being dislodged from their moorings by heavy ice sheets, eight vessels, including a cruise ship and a restaurant barge, hit a few bridges on the Hudson River in New York City.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation tweeted: “Heavy ice flows on the #HudsonRiver caused by recent warming and heavy rains dislodged 8 vessels from their docks early this morning. DEC, state and local officials quickly responded and secured the vessels.”

Cruise Liner Captain JP, a few tugboats, a restaurant barge called the Rusty Anchor, and a few other barges were among the vessels that drifted down the Hudson River.

Captain JP struck the Congress Street Bridge and then wedged itself against the Livingston Avenue bridge in Albany. It was dislodged by tugboats and then towed up the Hudson. The Rusty Anchor and other boats were secured at the Port of Albany.

Police closed the Congress Street Bridge, Troy Menands Bridge, the Patroon Island Bridge, and the Dunn Memorial Bridge temporarily on Friday as crews worked to secure the vessels.

Though no injuries were reported, with the shutdown of five bridges, commuters saw a bit of a delay.