"NEW SHOREHAM, R.I. - A U.S. Coast Guard cutter has collided with a Block Island Ferry, but there are no injuries reported.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Jorgensen says the accident happened around 12:15 p.m. today, three miles north of Block Island.
The ferry was heading to Block Island while the cutter, named Morro Bay, was returning to its home base in New London, Conn.
Jorgensen says the ferry was carrying 257 passengers. She says there are no reports of any injuries.
She did not have any more details.
A phone message left with the Block Island Ferry was not immediately returned."
:jump:

I cant imagine how the coast guard with all their nav and radar could hit something the size of a ferry. I mean its not like it gives off a big radar signature or anything.

Didn't that happen last week?

I cant imagine how the coast guard with all their nav and radar could hit something the size of a ferry. I mean its not like it gives off a big radar signature or anything.

Maybe the Coasties were deceived by the evasive maneuvers of the Polish Navy :rotflmao:

Block Island Ferry, Coast Guard cutter collide; no serious injuries
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 3, 2008
NEW LONDON, Conn. - A Block Island Ferry carrying between 250 and 300 passengers during the busy Independence Day holiday week collided with a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in dense fog about three miles north of the island yesterday, but no one was seriously injured, authorities said.

At an evening news conference at the cutter's home port of New London, the Coast Guard said it was not certain of the cause, though it said visibility at the time was about 200 yards.

"At this point the circumstance as to how the crash occurred is part of the investigation. It is not available this early," said Chief Petty Officer Amy Thomas. "We regret any inconvenience or distress this might have caused anybody on the ferry."

The 175-foot ferry was on an hour-long run to Block Island from Point Judith, R.I., and the 140-foot buoy tender Morro Bay was returning to New London from Newport, R.I., when the collision occurred about 12:15 p.m., the Coast Guard said. The cutter has a crew of 18.



Thomas said the Coast Guard vessel had radar.

"As far as we know all the equipment was operating properly," she said. The crew members from both vessels will undergo drug and alcohol testing, and passengers and crew will also be interviewed, Thomas said.

The 1,000-passenger capacity ferry, named Block Island, always uses radar and was using it at the time of the collision, said William A. McCombe, the ferry company's security officer. It is the primary year-round vessel that services the island, he said.

"That boat has made thousands of trips. This is the first incident that I know of like that involving that vessel," he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board also was investigating the crash, he said.

Brad Barco, 28, of West Greenwich, R.I., said he was riding on the top, outside level of the ferry close to the front with his girlfriend. He said the fog was thick and the ferry captain was blowing his horn every five minutes when they saw the Coast Guard cutter appear about 100 feet off the left of the ferry. Barco said both ships tried to avoid an impact and were able to slow down quite a bit before they collided.

I would like to see the final explanantion as to how this happened.

The guy said the Coast Guard Vessel was approaching from the left? That would mean the ferry was in their danger zone (dead ahead to 2 points abaf the starboard beam) and therefore it was their (CG) fault doesn't it?

Anyway , I would like to hear the explanation when its finally determined.

I would like to see the final explanantion as to how this happened.

The guy said the Coast Guard Vessel was approaching from the left? That would mean the ferry was in their danger zone (dead ahead to 2 points abaf the starboard beam) and therefore it was their (CG) fault doesn't it?

Anyway , I would like to hear the explanation when its finally determined.

I have heard several different people (some with Captain's licenses ) come up with nearly the exact same concept.

Yes.
If the CG's were westbound, and the ferry was Southbound, then the CG's hit the ferry on the port side, and you be in the wrong.

FWIW, I was on a survey line today, W-E with a sailboat WITH BARE POLES came down across my bow from the north (PORT) and gave me dirty looks and a gesture when I was forced to take his stern closer than he wanted... wouldn't answer me on 16 to discuss why he was wrong... Probably another weekend warrior rag-boat w/ the mentality they they always have the right of way!

Had a high school friend who graduated from the Coast Guard academy around 1977. He was at the helm of a large Coast Guard ship in NY harbor (obviously under supervision of a senior officer) when his ship collided with a another ship (I think it was a Navy vessel). The damage was major. He was compelled to testify and his testimony confirmed that the responsibility for the collision rested with his commanding officer. He was blackballed as a result and left the service soon thereafter. Someone will pay dearly for this collision.

coasties were leaving newport theres the explanation. They mustve been ripppin' drunk.