A marine accident recently occurred near Jacksonville, Florida between a docked tugboat and a powerboat with 14 people on board. The powerboat was leaving the marina when it slammed into the tugboat in the Intercoastal Waterway. Rescue efforts were restricted due to ongoing construction on the dock. Seven individuals were seriously injured and five others were killed.
All of the victims were passengers on the powerboat; the tugboat was empty at the time. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating this maritime collision. Interestingly, because of the serious injuries and fatalities, the NTSB is investigating this matter even though it typically does not review boating accidents. The investigations will review and consider numerous factors that may have caused the accident such as intoxication, lighting conditions and speed at the time the collision occurred. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
