The U.S. Coast Guard and New York Police escorted a NY Waterway ferry to safety in Manhattan after it left the Belford terminal in Middletown and began to take on water during a storm. The U.S. Coast Guard's New York Station received reports that the ferry, named the Peter Weiss, was taking on water over its side near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at 7:56 a.m. After the ferry left Belford, winds became stronger, and were steady at 34 knots, with gusts of 50 or more knots at times. The waves in the New York Harbor were between two and four feet. The 149 passengers were ordered to put on life jackets as a safety precaution.
The Coast Guard and police met the boat near the bridge, and escorted it to Pier 11, arriving at 8:42 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
(Source: Asbury Park Press)