Giant Rubber Duck Sparks International Tugboat Parade on the Hudson

Giant Rubber Duck on the Hudson

Date: June 14, 2025

Byline: By Carla Mendoza, Staff Writer

New York City — In a dazzling display of whimsy and watercraft, a 200-foot-tall inflatable rubber duck unexpectedly appeared in the Hudson River yesterday morning, sparking what officials are now calling the largest spontaneous tugboat parade in recorded history.

The duck, nicknamed “Colossus Quackers” by local children, was first spotted around 7:12 a.m. by ferry commuters. Within hours, over two dozen tugboats from across the Northeast had congregated around the floating spectacle, blaring their horns and waving colorful nautical flags.

“It was like something out of a dream—or a cartoon,” said Captain Roy Liddel of the Molly B, one of the first tugboats to arrive. “We didn’t plan it. We just saw that big duck, and we knew we had to follow.”

The U.S. Coast Guard initially investigated the duck’s origin, suspecting a publicity stunt gone rogue, but by late afternoon, officials admitted they were "just as surprised as everyone else." No company has claimed responsibility.

The duck floated serenely for most of the day, drifting slowly downstream, escorted by a cheering flotilla of tugboats, paddleboarders, and even a rogue jet ski shaped like a narwhal. Street vendors lined the piers selling duck-themed hats, and spontaneous “quack-ins” broke out across Midtown.

Social media lit up with the hashtag #DuckOfLiberty, with several users speculating the duck was a message from “advanced aquatic life forms” or an elaborate prank by elusive street artist Banksy. Conspiracy theorists claim it’s the beginning of the “Plush Uprising.”

By sunset, the duck gently deflated and folded in on itself, vanishing beneath the waves just as silently as it had arrived. Authorities retrieved a single, waterproof note tied to one of its wings. It read simply: “You needed this. You’re welcome. – Q”

No further explanation has emerged.

City officials are calling for June 13th to be declared “Duck Day”, and planning is already underway for a more organized parade next year—rubber duck optional.

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