In all, six boats broke loose from the mooring and began to float down the Hudson River from Troy to Albany last Friday morning, January 25, resulting in a number of bridges across the Hudson river being closed for safety concerns, and creating massive traffic backups.
The boats ranged from tugs, to barges, to a floating restaurant, and the Captain JP cruise boat. That garnered the most concern because of its size. The Captain JP eventually got stuck under a railroad bridge in Albany, creating what the owner says is cosmetic damage.
There were no injuries, and all the bridges came through their brush with the boats just fine. All the boats and barges were rounded up by noon and most returned to their docking spaces.
Coast Guard officials say a large chunk of ice, about ten feet long and spanning the entire width of the river, is believed to have been the cause of the incident.