Police searched a boat after it sank in the canal in the Gay Village.
It's thought they were checking if anyone was trapped in the submerged vessel.
Officers were seen onboard the boat, which had been moored up opposite the bar G-A-Y on Canal Street, earlier tonight.
Pictures from the scene show one police officer stood on the roof of the cabin, which is flying a Jolly Roger.
Witness Isaac Jordan said items from inside the boat are now floating down the canal towards a pair of nearby lock gates.
The Manchester Metropolitan University journalism student, 27, added: "The police arrived about the same time I got here.
"They were checking to see if anyone was in there. But they seemed happy there was no-one onboard so they left.
"The boat is submerged up to its windows and its contents are floating down the canal to the lock gate.
"It's quite a bizarre sight. Everyone is sat outside the bars on Canal Street talking about it."
