Firefighters feverishly worked to plug a hole in a historic barge that was sinking fast in the Hudson River in Croton.

The 50-foot vessel, which now serves as a museum showcasing New York's waterway history, was pierced by ice around noon Sunday. Firefighters arrived at the scene to pump water out of the punctured hull.

The barge once moved dry goods along the river before trucks. Officials say it's an important piece of history that needs to be saved. Barge owner and Captain Steve Truman expects to have the vessel back up and running for tours by early spring.

Related Information:North River Tugboat Museum