Today was the fifth NYC City of Water Day, and today offered a demonstration of the blessing of water.
At 1610, someone on the NYWaterways vessel, where I was narrating a tour, noticed smoke coming from Pier 17, lots of it.
By 1611, Shark, owned by NY Water Taxi & Circle Line downtown, appeared to be first
responder, albeit with a low water volume relative to what was needed.
Flames grew inside the pier by 1611.
Here’s 1612. There seem to be quite a number of people not that far from the flames.
By 1612, Bravest had arrived on the scene.
as flames grew.
1613, she begins to maneuver into position and
directs her monitors on the fire.
Bravo to the Bravest. Bravo Marine Company 6 . . .
All fotos by Will Van Dorp. Here’s an early evening update from the NYTimes.
tugster: a waterblog 
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July 14, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Rosie
Will, I was on the 2:00 pm NY Waterways Hidden Harbor tour today and very much enjoyed your interesting talk. I was shocked when I got home and heard about the fire on the radio, especially since we passed right by Pier 17 on the tour! I googled tugster as you suggested and found your waterblog. Thank you for posting your dramatic photos of the fire. I’ve loved South Street Seaport since around 1973–the old ships, the old shack on the splintery pier where I ate clam chowder and listened to sea chanteys.
July 14, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Ken
That is cool you got pictures of that. Not cool that it happened though.
July 15, 2012 at 8:27 am
tugboathunter
What Ken said…