Metro

93 hurt after boat slams into Pier 11, drawing reminders of 2003 tragedy

An out-of-control ferry carrying more than 300 commuters slammed into a lower Manhattan dock yesterday, tossing terrified passengers like rag dolls into walls and down staircases.

Federal investigators are probing whether a mechanical failure caused the Seastreak Wall Street to crash into Pier 11 at about 8:45 a.m., sending 93 passengers to hospitals — two of them in critical condition — and ripping a giant gash in the ship’s bow.

PHOTOS: SEASTREAK FERRY CRASHES INTO PIER 11

“It was brutal,” said commuter Anthony Lucia, 50, North American CEO of premium jeans-maker G-Star, who was hurled at least 15 feet.

“We were just pulling in . . . It hit something, and it was a disaster,” said the Allenhurst, NJ, resident. “Everyone flew, and people were on the ground.”

RIDER’S FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF FERRY CRASH

CAPTAINS WORRIED OVER PROPULSION SYSTEM

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which evoked memories of the horrific 2003 Staten Island Ferry wreck that killed 10 people and injured 59.

The 141-foot-long Seastreak Wall Street — which departed Highlands, NJ, at 8 a.m. with 326 passengers and five crew — was in the command of Senior Captain Jason “Jay” Reimer, 36.

Reimer and his crew all passed Breathalyzer tests, but refused to speak with probers as lawyers for Seastreak swooped in, according to sources.

Reimer last year spoke on the topic “Busy Harbor, Rough Waters” for the 2012 Waterfront Conference, and is “absolutely the most qualified captain that Seastreak has,” said commercial fishing-boat captain Rob Hrbek, 46. “He’s top notch.”

The NTSB will probe whether a new jet water-propulsion system installed over the summer played a role in the crash.

“We’re going to be looking at that, along with everything else,” said board member Robert Sumwalt.

Commuter Bob Garzotto, 47, said that during yesterday’s passage through New York Harbor, “it sounded like it was having engine trouble. There was a rattling sound, like something caught in the jet. Maybe there was an engine malfunction.”

As the ferry approached Pier 11, it struck and destroyed a buoy floating about 40 yards from the dock, sources said.

City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said the ferry “missed Slip D and continued on and hit Slip B.” at Pier 11.

“It was a hard landing,” said Sadik-Khan, adding that the ferry is believed to have been speeding at 10 to 12 knots per hour right before impact.

Roy Marleau, 39, an education consultant aboard the ferry, said, “All of a sudden, people who were standing up went flying into the aisles — people flew four, five, six feet.

“People who were standing outside crashed into glass doors and shattered them.

About 150 FDNY firefighters and paramedics rushed to the chaotic scene, where they placed the injured on stretchers and immobilized their necks before taking them to hospitals.

(EPA)

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(EPA)

GASH:The damage to the hull shows the force of the crash, which left hurt passengers littering Pier 11.

GASH:The damage to the hull shows the force of the crash, which left hurt passengers littering Pier 11.

SEASICK:Seastreak Captain Jason Reimer after yesterday’s near-catastrophe.

(Gregory P. Mango)

(Gregory P. Mango)

GASH: The damage to the hull shows the force of the crash (inset), which left hurt passengers littering Pier 11. (
)

In addition to the two critically injured passengers — who are expected to survive — nine were in serious condition, 17 were in guarded condition, and the rest suffered minor injuries, officials said.

The Seastreak Wall Street has been involved in three other collisions while docking, in 2006, 2009 and 2010, according to Coast Guard records.

“The [latest] incident was a bad one, but it could have been a lot worse,” said city Emergency Management Commissioner Joe Bruno.

Seastreak Chairman James Rex Barker said Captain Reimer is “not doing well. This was a very serious accident.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people that got injured, and we regret very much what happened,” Barker said.

Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Lorena Mongelli, Jessica Simeone and Dana Sauchelli