US Coast Guard responds to adrift vessels near Troy, New York

The US Coast Guard and partner agencies have responded to reports of several barges and vessels breaking away from their moorings on the Hudson River near Troy, New York, on the morning of Friday, January 25.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York received the initial report of the situation from Rensselaer emergency despatch.

New York State Marine notified the coast guard that an additional six vessels were noticed adrift in the ice floes shortly before sunrise.

One of the vessels is the 91-metre cruise boat Captain JP III (pictured) that became stuck at the Livingston Avenue railroad bridge.

USCGC Penobscot Bay, a 42-metre icebreaker, and USCGC Wire, a 19-metre icebreaking tug, were despatched to the scene to assist. Two commercial tugs also responded.

Two adrift barges have been secured while Captain JP III was pulled out by the tugs from underneath the Livingston Avenue bridge.

Coast guard members are continuing to work with the New York Department of Transportation, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and local emergency responders.

There have been no reports of injuries or pollution. The coast guard is continuing to investigate the incident.