Luxury Party Yacht Collides with Manhattan Pier, Leaving Dozens Injured

A celebration aboard a high-end yacht in New York City ended in chaos after the vessel, carrying nearly 400 passengers, crashed into a dock along the Hudson River on Saturday afternoon. The collision resulted in multiple injuries among those on board.

As the yacht was approaching the dock near West 125th Street and Henry Hudson Parkway at around 4:18 p.m., a line snapped, causing it to collide with the pier. Witnesses described a sudden and frightening scene, with some passengers falling inside the boat or onto the dock due to the impact, which lacked support structures for those falling.

Despite the severity of the crash, no passengers were thrown overboard. Emergency crews evacuated the passengers, some in wheelchairs, from the vessel. About 35 individuals sustained minor injuries, with 23 taken to hospitals for evaluation. Witnesses reported hearing injured passengers tell responders they had “a good time” despite their injuries.

The yacht, the largest in the fleet operated by Empire Cruises, features three bars and climate-controlled indoor seating for up to 550 guests, available for trips along the Hudson River.

Among the passengers was a 69-year-old celebrating her birthday, who expressed gratitude that no one was seriously hurt. She remarked on the quickness of the incident, describing how some people managed to avoid falling or going over the side during the collision. A party promoter on board was relieved that more severe harm was avoided, noting that many along the side of the boat could have gone overboard but were fortunate not to.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation by the Coast Guard, with officials stating that details about the crash are still unknown. The company behind the vessel, which charges $120 per person for various events, has not yet commented on the matter.