Tugboat firm that aided Andrew J. Barberi gets $46G

The owners and crew of a tugboat that helped the Staten Island Ferry boat Andrew J. Barberi on the day of its fatal crash in 2003 were awarded a salvage claim of $46,000 Monday - far less than the $8 million they sought.

U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn found that Henry Marine Services of Tottenville and its tugboat the Dorothy J. helped arrest the drift of the Barberi right after its collision with the dock and helped calm passengers. But he said the Barberi would have gotten back to its slip without help.

Under maritime law, those who help rescue a vessel at sea are entitled to a salvage award. But the city argued that the Dorothy J.'s claim was way out of proportion to the benefit it conferred.

Eleven people were killed when the Barberi's captain fainted and the boat crashed at the terminal Oct. 15, 2003.