One Dead After Boats Collide in Atlantic Near Long Branch
Another injured as result from Atlantic Ocean boating accident
Photos
Two recreational boats collided Saturday afternoon in ocean waters near Long Branch, leaving one man dead and another with injuries in the wake of the accident.
According to several reports, the man, whose name has not yet been released by the New Jersey State Police, was originally taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune for head injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The other passenger was reportedly in shock immediately after the accident.
The United States Coast Guard’s 5th District Public Affairs Office stated that an 18 foot-long pleasure craft and a 36 foot-long pleasure craft named “No Surrender” were involved in an accident at about 1:15 p.m. today, colliding in the Atlantic Ocean about a mile and a half south of Long Branch.
“Personnel aboard the No Surrender, a 36 foot-long pleasure craft with four people aboard, contacted Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders informing them of the incident, and that the two people aboard an 18 foot-long pleasure craft sustained injuries,” said Petty Officer Brandyn Hill of the United States Coast Guard’s 5th District Public Affairs Office.
Passengers of the “No Surrender” retrieved both men aboard the 18 foot-long craft, and brought them onto the other boat. The “No Surrender” then headed into the Shark River, where they were met and escorted to the United States Coast Guard Station located there by crews aboard a small 25 foot-long Response Boat and a 47 foot-long Motor Life Boat from the station.
“Personnel from the New Jersey State Police are on scene, and the cause of the accident is under investigation,” Hill said on Saturday.
Sal
4:51 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Hitting another boat this time of year in the ocean is like finding a needle in a mile long haystack. They were likely the only 2 vessels out there for miles around. Fortunately, at least this time no one on the small boat died__like the last time (about 7 years ago) when a lager cabin cruiser on autopilot with no observer watching where it was going ran over a small boat in the ocean off the NJ coast.
Mrs. G.
6:41 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
One of the passengers did die. My thoughts are with all involved and their families.
Gary garrison
7:48 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
I was fishing in that area untill around 1 pm. There were many boats there today. The fog was bad & got worse as we were leaving
Jim
9:50 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
I agree with folks regarding operating recklessly; if that is to be addressed, we should address those who go out in the ocean in pea soup thick fog in tiny boats. Time and time again, I see low profile center consol 20'-27'' out in fog and without radar. Reckless boating and small boating in fog needs to be addressed.
RJS@BHS
2:32 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
More government. Great suggestion. How much more of my money do you want to tread on my freedom? Jim, is this really a frequent event? When a plane crashes, I suppose you will syggest we should ground them all, stop flying, tax and spend.
Gary garrison
11:21 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
How do you know who was at fault ? The captain of the 36 ft boat is a professional charter boat captain
Vinny G
9:41 am on Monday, December 10, 2012
Isn't the inlet a Slow, No Wake zone? I thought I remember signs on each side. Looks like he's speeding thru it. Huh
chris g
12:09 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Inlet is not a no wake zone. Boat has radar and is operated by a professional. Accidents happen. Tragic for both parties involved.
chris g
12:09 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
The inlet is no longer 'no wake'. Captain on the yellowfin is a pro and has radar. Accidents happen. Tragic for both parties involved.
Vinny G
2:11 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
I apoligize. last time I went thru I saw signs on either side. It must have been changed since then
cmpt
2:11 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Sounds like the Yellowfin was the burdened vessel
or did that rule go away because he is a Professional?
clueless
3:59 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
what the "f" does professional have to do with this. he ran over a anchored vessel. Chris G - assuming its not captian chris gaitley - accidents happen is the stupidest statement i can even imagine. because he had radar, and because hes a professional, dude r u serious? if it was thick as pea soup then why the hell would you be running fast anyway. captains error, captain will pay!
Sal
3:59 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Accidents of this nature don't "Just Happen". "People" caused this accident. Fog is not a valid excuse to operate any vessel in an unsafe manner that causes property damage or injuries . Foggy conditions are instead a valid reason to operate the vessel in a much slower and more careful safer manner than normal___and at a speed that is consistent with the range of visibility. A reason also to have more observers on deck. Small fiberglass boats and sailing vessels are extremely hard to detect on radar, since they have few metal surfaces to reflect the radar signal. "The other vessel did not show up on my radar"___is not an acceptable excuse to run into or over another vessel.
Suggestions: 1) Please turn on your navigation lights on in foggy conditions in the day time to help make your vessel more visible.
2) Please use a fog horn or fog bell in foggy conditions 'as required' under navigation rules, so you can be heard when you cannot be easily seen. 3) Please Slow down to a speed that is compatible with your range of sight. Someone is always at fault in every accident___they do not Just Happen. Had either vessel been using their fog horn or fog bell AS REQUIRED__THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. It is accidents that bring down more government rules and regulations upon us all. That said___far more people die in backyard swimming pools in NJ each year than in boating collisions.
Always Right
7:21 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
The captain of the vessel underway should have been moving at a speed not to exceed the conditions, to have a watch up foward of the vessel at all times, and blow a horn blast at dense fog intervals.The vessel at anchor should have at least had an anchor light on in fog conditions and sounding horn blasts.
Capt Philip Topps
7:41 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Sal,
You are correct in all that you say. The ROR require the sounding of 1prolonged blast, (4-6sec) of a vessel under way on reduced visibility, and a vessel anchored has a similar requirement. And to the individual who decried "more government", if the struck vessel had radar, and a lookout (required under the ROR), they may have detected the incoming vessel in time to avoid the collision. Not more government, just common sense. The captain of the Yellowfin will likely face some action, as will others involved. In a marine casualty, cause is always bidirectional to some degree.