Thursday, 4:30 PM
Ferries collide in foggy harbor; no injuries reported
(George Rizer / Globe Staff)
The commuter ferry Massachusetts (right) was carrying 151 passengers this morning when it was struck by another ferry. On the left, another commuter boat approached Rowes Wharf.
By Claire Cummings, Globe Correspondent
A two-ferry collision this morning in Boston Harbor caused structural damage to both vessels but no serious injuries to passengers.
Laura, a 101-foot ferry boat traveling outbound, slammed into the starboard side of the 88-foot Massachusetts shortly before 7:30 a.m., said Petty Officer Zach Zubricki, spokesman for the Coast Guard, at the agency's offices near Rowe's Wharf, where the ferries dock.
The Massachusetts, which was cruising inbound, had 151 people on board, none of whom were seriously injured, Zubricki said. Only the crew was aboard Laura, he said. The cause of the crash is under investigation, including a report of a third vessel near the boats at the time of the accident, Zubricki said.
The two ferries are owned by Boston Harbor Cruises but are used by the MBTA to provide commuter service between Hingham and Rowes Wharf. The trip typically takes about 25 minutes, said Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
“This will not impact afternoon service or the evening rush hour,” Pesaturo said.
The Laura sustained an estimated $10,000 in damage in the crash and has been taken to a shipyard in Charlestown for repairs, Pesaturo said. The damage to The Massachusetts was still being evaluated.
"It seemed like something out of a movie," said Paula Marcangelo, who commutes every day to her job as an assistant to the Coast Guard’s district commander. Marcangelo, who is also a member of the Coast Guard’s volunteer branch, called the agency after the crash.
"At one point, one of the gentlemen said, 'You're so calm,' " she said. "That's what I'm trained to do."
Marcangelo said heavy fog resulted in low visibility and the incident could have been much worse.
"I was just thankful it stopped when it did and didn't plow in further," she said.
