A Norwegian cruise ship got stuck in the Hudson River after one of its thrusters malfunctioned, leaving passengers stranded for hours as fights broke out among the frustrated crowds.
The ship, Norwegian Breakaway, arriving from a weeklong Caribbean cruise, lost its steering as it was headed for Pier 88 on the West Side when a side thruster malfunctioned, according to the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard officials said they were notified of the stuck ship at 7:45 a.m., and Captain of the Port Gordon Loebl ordered it to get tugged in.
A tug boat led the cruise liner in to Pier 88, at W. 48th St., at 10 a.m.
“They pulled in and tied the vessel up to the pier,” said Coast Guard spokesman Frank Iannazzo-Simmons.
Passengers said tempers boiled over as those aboard the ship waited hours to reach port, leading to screaming matches, and pushing and shoving.
"It got a little chaotic," says Ashley Hernandez, 30, as she disembarked. "It was really unorganized. There were people fighting when we got off the ship."
Eline Sodano, 59, bashed the cruise company. "They have to know how to handle emergencies. They don't know how. It's disgusting. I have high blood pressure. I had to take medicine. Nobody cared," she said. "I've been up since 6 a.m. Everybody started screaming. I can't handle it."
Norwegian Cruise Line spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews described it as a minor incident.
Cruise ship in port after stuck in Hudson River
“The ship was slightly delayed because of strong currents in the Hudson River,” she said. “We thank our guests for their patience and understanding.”
She said a scheduled cruise to Bermuda on the Norwegian Breakaway would depart this afternoon at 5 p.m.