The Coast Guard says it is unsure whether the holiday lighting display aboard a tour boat contributed to a collision In Charleston, S.C. on December 5, 2009.
At 2030, the 25-foot Coast Guard response boat rammed into the starboard side of the tour boat
Thriller, injuring three passengers, uprooting seats and knocking a hole in the hull. Some of the 24 passengers aboard the 55-foot catamaran described the response boat to be barreling directly at them; one was said to yell “It’s going to hit us!”
According to a Coast Guard spokesperson, the
Thriller’s display of white lights wrapped around the hull was a violation of rules of the road but it is not known whether those lights fooled the response boat operator and caused the collision.
One of the tour boat’s owners said it was customary for boats to display decorative lights during the holiday season.
“We had white lights around our boat, but so do hundreds of other boats during the holiday season,” said Barbara Fox.
The Coast Guard issued a safety warning on December 21 reminding operators not to illuminate lighting not necessary for safe navigation of the vessel unless at the dock or as part of a parade.
Source: Professional Mariner
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