On January 31, the U.S. Coast Guard released its final report regarding the collision of a Coast Guard vessel and a pleasure boat in San Diego Harbor in 2009 that caused the death of 8-year-old Anthony DeWeese and injured 10 people.
According to The Associated Press, the report reveals that Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Ramos and his crew were responsible for the incident and cites their failure to follow standard risk management methods. The 33-foot Coast Guard watercraft was going 48 mph – rushing to respond to a grounded sailboat – when it collided with the 24-foot pleasure boat. Investigators concluded that there was no reason for the Coast Guard vessel to be moving so quickly and recklessly, as the individuals on the sailboat were not in any immediate danger.
As a result of the incident, Ramos has been demoted and will spend three months in military prison for dereliction of duty for the crash, reports the source. He and the other crew members aboard the Coast Guard vessel delivered heartfelt apologies to DeWeese’s family in court.
“No words or deeds can atone for the death of a young boy, or for the pain caused to his family,” Vice Admiral John Currier was quoted as saying in a Coast Guard statement. “We can only affirm our resolve to ensure nothing like this happens again.”
Unfortunately there are a number of risks associated with owning and operating watercraft – either personally or professionally. As such, many boat owners turn to marine insurance agencies that can help them find the best rates and ensure that they are covered in the case of an accident.