Story Created:
Jul 2, 2008 at 1:37 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 2, 2008 at 6:13 PM EDT
NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. (AP) - A 140-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutter has collided with a Block Island Ferry carrying 257 passengers, but there are no injuries reported.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen says the accident happened around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, three miles north of Block Island.
The ferry was heading to Block Island from Point Judith while the cutter, named Morro Bay, was returning to its home base in New London, Conn.
Petty Officer Etta Smith says visibility at the time was about 200 yards. She says it's not clear what happened. Smith said the cutter was not assisting the ferry when the crash occurred, and it appears coincidental they were near each other.
Smith says the ferry has a 44-inch-long dent about 5 feet above the water line.
It was escorted to Block Island by another Coast Guard ship. A passenger says it arrived about 2:30 p.m.
ABC 6 reporters Erica Ricci and Jeremy Tung have more from Point Judith and Block Island respectively...
Friday, Jul 4 at 12:05 PM Mom wrote ...
8:38 AM Tallpaul wrote ...Here's the deal....both boats have really good radar equipment...the people in the wheelhouses weren't looking at the screens. If they had, both ships would have shown up like a huge blob on the screens. Careless operation on the part of both skippers. THAT is what happened....end of story!! Which bridge were you on?
Friday, Jul 4 at 10:33 AM mike wrote ...
both vessels has two radar systems also
Thursday, Jul 3 at 8:38 AM Tallpaul wrote ...
Here's the deal....both boats have really good radar equipment...the people in the wheelhouses weren't looking at the screens. If they had, both ships would have shown up like a huge blob on the screens. Careless operation on the part of both skippers. THAT is what happened....end of story!!
Thursday, Jul 3 at 8:05 AM Big PAPI wrote ...
Well if there were any laywers on board - you know what will be coming next - LITIGAION LITIGATION AND WE ALL PAY FOR LITIGATION - What happenned to Radar?
Thursday, Jul 3 at 7:50 AM RI resident wrote ...
I believe the Pt Judith coast guard to be young poorly trained & unprofessional when the public responds before the coast guard we have a problem
Thursday, Jul 3 at 3:04 AM anonymous wrote ...
There is no need to jump on the crew and say it was handled poorly. The captain didn't come over the PA and say anything because there was other issues theres a procedure for any maritime incident that has to be followed. The crew has certain stations to go to, and if the passengers were given life jackets then the situation was handled fine. Remember there is 8 crew members on board and there is a mass panic if anything bad happens. its not an easy situation.
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 10:19 PM eric-the boat passenger wrote ...
It wasn't the ferry's fault. The coast guard just kind of kissed us 'cause we turned into the direction they were going. I witnessed the whole thing... I was sitting on the right side of the boat and when it came I heard a horn blow to the left so I went to the side where the coast guard was to check out the boat and it was heading towards us. So I said to myself "Oh no." And it bumped us.
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 8:30 PM boat passenger wrote ...
The crew handled the situation very poorly, the captain did not talk to us for 10-15 minutes to reassure us things were ok and we had to find our own life jackets and ask what was going on as we were stranded in the ocean for a few hours. someone needs to accept responsibility here.
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 4:20 PM Nice job wrote ...
Watch out where your going...... My 100 year old grandmother can drive a boat better without getting hit!!!!!!!
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 3:06 PM captain wrote ...
You would think the last boat in the world to hit you would be the Coast Guard. If the ferry was heading for Block and the cutter was headed to New London, then the ferry had the right of way. Some ones in trouble, OOPS!
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 2:59 PM myblockisland.com wrote ...
here is a link to the USCGC Morrow Bay. how does a big ice breaker and a big ferry collide?? http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=81034
Wednesday, Jul 2 at 2:02 PM myblockisland.com wrote ...
oops
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