From TPM Reader RV ...

As a former Navy guy, I know something about ship handling, and I've got to say that the actions of the captains and crews of the rescue boats, particularly the three large ferries that started pulling up alongside the ditched plane within 3-4 minutes of the landing were totally superb! It is not easy to take large craft like these, racing across the water and get them to slow down enough to ease up alongside a large bobbing object in the water without actually hitting it. A collision between any of those boats and the plane might have tragically sent all concerned quickly to the bottom of the Hudson. Watching these ships pulling gently up, lowering the forward ramps then quickly and calmly embarking the stranded passengers and crew was most impressive for this old sailor!

I don't want to shortchange Captain Sullenberger and the crew of the plane for performing this miracle, but we also need to be aware of and grateful to those first responders that sealed the deal by pulling everyone off the plane safely!