A Tipster reported earlier today:
There’s a Barge in the river roped off next to the soccer field . It lost steering last night. Sculptures in the water are all damaged. And one of the concrete pillars of the promenade railing is knocked down.
Vince G shares these 2 photos
and adds:
Walking along the East River today, and two of the three Tom Otterness sculptures {Marriage of Money and Real Estate} are gone. One of the two seems to be lying flat in the river. Don’t see the other one.
Is this a RIOC issue?
It was not a RIOC issue. Rachel Fox reports on what happened:
A massive barge lost control in the middle of the night and hit a rock along the west side seawall. While attempting to dock it, it completely shook the seawall knocking out sculptures and pylons.
The East River Keeper has more detailed information.
According to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Vice President Communications & Government Affairs Bryant Daniels:
Last night, a cargo ship veered too close to Roosevelt Island and struck the art sculptures in the East River. Preliminary reports indicate the vessel experienced a steering issue before striking the sculpture. The ship remained stopped near the island until high tide, when it was able to resume its journey. RIOC has barricaded the area near the incident as a precautionary safety measure. We have contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, which is now actively engaged in addressing the incident. We are seeking a full investigation, including a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the vessel.
During this evening’s Roosevelt Island Public Safety Community Engagement Meeting, Chief Kevin Brown provided some additional information on the barge crashing into Roosevelt Island and says he was told the damage to The Marriage of Money and Real Estate sculptures were:
… minimal and they can be repaired.
In May 2022, Roosevelt Island resident Jan Fund explained the meaning of The Marriage of Money and Real Estate 3 sculptures.
I asked the US Coast Guard for comment and will update with any response.