Passengers Evacuated After NYC Ferry Strikes 'Submerged Object' Near Pier 11

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Passengers were escorted off an NYC Ferry during the Monday evening rush after officials say the vessel struck a submerged object in the East River near Lower Manhattan.

Authorities say the ferry 'Zelinsky' became disabled after hitting the object between Pier 9 and Pier 11 almost immediately after departing for the Rockaways around 5:15 p.m.

"The boat just started trembling a little bit and the captain said 'We're stuck in the mud because of the low tide'," passenger Luke Miszczuk told CBS2's Tony Aiello. "You could feel that rumble of the rotors hitting the floor. He tried to tilt the boat around, move it but there was no way."

The captain told the 100 plus passengers to put on life jackets and prepare for evacuation. NYPD and FDNY Marine Units worked to bring the passengers to safety.

"We were crowded, we were hungry... it was wonderful," a sarcastic Leslie Mahoney told CBS2's Aiello.

No passengers were injured as they were quickly loaded onto another boat for the 60-second trip back to Pier 11.

The Zelinsky is likely to be out of service for some time, with damage to the hull.

"There was a slight hole in the hull, nothing major," FDNY Chief John Sarrocco said. "Nothing to where the boat would sink. Right now we're pumping out some water that the boat had taken on."

The ferry is operated by the Hornblower company and is subsidized by the city. A spokesperson for Mayor de Blasio's office says NYC Ferry will operate on a normal schedule Tuesday.