The 154-foot Steamship Authority passenger boat Iyanough rammed into the jetty at the entrance to Hyannis Harbor and became grounded on the rocks at 9:31 p.m., according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The violent impact injured six of the 48 passengers, three seriously, Hyannis fire Capt. Thomas Kenney said.
The high seas and gusting winds made getting boats and helicopters to the scene a difficult task, Kenney said.
“We are up against nasty seas and nasty winds,” he said.
The all-aluminum catamaran, which was also carrying nine crew members, was wrapping up the one-hour, 26-mile trip from Nantucket when it slammed into the jetty, leaving the disabled ferry lodged on the rocks and taking on water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
In addition to the fire boats and land-based crews Kenney said Hyannis authorities dispatched to the scene, the U.S. Coast Guard sent multiple units from stations in Nantucket, Chatham and Woods Hole to assist after the vessel issued a mayday call. A Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod hoisted two of the most seriously injured passengers back to the base, where they were transferred to a nearby hospital, officials said.
Rescue crews worked late into the night to transfer all the passengers and crew members off the damaged vessel.
The Coast Guard also said it started its assessment of the damage to the Iyanough and would remain on scene to ensure that boats could navigate through the area safely.
Videos posted to social media last night showed dozens of rattled passengers wearing life vests waiting to be rescued as members of the Coast Guard walked through the boat. The cause of the grounding was being investigated last night.
Last year, a Steamship Authority freight ferry collided with another ferry docked in Woods Hole when its engine stalled. Although the docked ferry was damaged in that crash, there were no injuries to passengers or crew members on either vessel.
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