What to Know
- Seven boats broke free from their moorings and floated down the Hudson River from Albany Friday morning
- Rising water and ice jams helped the boats free their moorings
- One of the boats, a 300-foot cruise ship, hit a span in Troy before becoming stuck under a bridge
An unoccupied Hudson River cruise ship broke loose from its moorings amid rising water and ice jams, floated slowly downriver and got jammed under a rail bridge in Albany, creating a major mess and snarling traffic.
The four-deck Captain J.P. III cruise ship and six other vessels drifted from Troy downriver toward Albany early Friday morning, temporarily closing five vehicle bridges and snarling rush-hour traffic.
Officials say the 300-foot cruise vessel hit a span in Troy before becoming stuck under a bridge connecting Albany and Rensselaer. Amtrak says it's using the bridge under "restricted speeds."
Two Coast Guard ice-breaking cutters and two commercial tug boats are headed to the scene to pull the ship free.
No injuries have been reported.
The Coast Guard says two barges were secured.