Coast Guard Tows Disabled New York Tour Boat

[Brief] On Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York provided an emergency tow to the passenger vessel The Manhattan, which was disabled and drifting in New York Harbor near Governors Island.

Her captain dropped anchor, but he advised the Coast Guard that with prevailing weather conditions, the anchor was not holding and the vessel was still adrift.

About 100 passengers and crew were aboard.

Coast Guard rescue boat crews set a safety perimeter around the vessel, and the local command center broadcast a warning to alert traffic to the situation. 

A small cutter, the Sailfish, arrived about half an hour after The Manhattan radioed for assistance. She took the disabled vessel in tow and brought her to Pier 36 on the East River, The Manhattan's usual berth. A tug provided an assist for docking, and all those aboard safely disembarked by about 1800, just two hours after the casualty.

The Manhattan normally operates a one hour tour from Pier 36.