Ferry runs aground at Jamaica Bay

FDNY rescues passengers; no injuries

May 28, 2014 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Seastreak, courtesy of Councilman Vincent Gentile

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FDNY responders evacuated 25 passengers and four crew members from a Seastreak ferry which ran aground in Jamaica Bay on Wednesday afternoon.

According to an FDNY spokesperson, a call for help from the Seastreak’s Ocean State came in at 12:33 p.m. All the passengers were evacuated safely and with no injuries.

Passengers were taken to a wharf west of the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge in Broad Channel, Queens, according to FDNY.

Seastreak spokesperson Tom Wynne told the Brooklyn Eagle that the 65-foot vessle was not on a regular service run at the time. The boat was carrying twenty-five residents, including local business owners from Rockaway, Queens, who were exploring ways to add additional ferry stops around Jamaica Bay. The vessel was moving at approximately 2 knots per hour when it grounded on the muddy bottom, Wynne said.

“I am told the boat encountered an uncharted shoal. We are sorry this happened and that our guests were inconvenienced. Thankfully, no one was injured. Our thanks goes out to the Fire Department of New York for transporting our passengers to shore,” said Wynne. “The vessel does not appear to be damaged,” he added. The fireboat “had everybody off within an hour.”

Wynne said he expects the vessle to float free by itself on this evening’s incoming tide.