Sailboat near Statue of Liberty runs aground
HUDSON RIVER (WABC) -- More than a hundred passengers had to be taken off of a sailboat that ran aground in the Hudson River on Saturday.
The Clipper City, which is owned and operated by a private tour company operated by Manhattan by Sail, was sailing near the Statue of Liberty around 1 p.m. when the incident happened, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. There were no reported injuries. Manhattan by Sail usually sails from the south end of Battery Park.
121 passengers and 9 crew members were offloaded to the North Cove Marina on the lower west side of Manhattan. Nine vessels from the Coast Guard, and police and fire departments helped bring the passengers to shore.
The 158-foot clipper was on a beer-tasting tour of Lower Manhattan when the breathtaking views were suddenly overshadowed by troubles. The ship was stuck in the ground, and it took the police, fire, Coast Guard, and US Parks Department about an hour and a half to get all the passengers safely back to land.
One passenger said everyone was in good spirits though during the wait, and that officers pointed to the sights as passengers were brought back to shore on police boats.
A bride and groom had booked the same sailboat for 5 p.m. Saturday night so they could exchange their wedding vows under the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. Guests arriving at the dock were shocked to learn that there wouldn't be a cruise.
There were no reported fuel or oil leaks, and the boat is considered structurally safe, according to the Coast Guard. The crew stayed on board awaiting a tow.
