NTSB: NJ Ferry Crisis Left No Time to Warn Riders Federal accident investigators say crew members scrambling to gain control of a high-speed ferry before it crashed into a New York City pier reported having no time to warn hundreds of passengers. The preliminary findings of the National Transportation Safety Board were released Friday. They recounted the hectic final seconds aboard the vessel before it crashed on Jan. 9, injuring 85 people. The ferry was carrying 326 passengers from Atlantic Highlands, N.J. The NTSB says it crashed after the master crewmember steering the boat reduced the speed from 30 knots to 12 knots. It says he tried to switch propulsion control from the boat's center console to a side control area. The captain told investigators the propulsion control failed during that process.