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Fisher Island Ferry collision update

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Pascal, Jul 21, 2023.

  1. Pascal, Jul 21, 2023
    #1
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    About 3 weeks a center console collided with one of the Fisher Island Ferries at night killing one and injuring one. Port Miami was shut down for over 12 hours while the sink boat was raised from the bottom, causing havoc to cruise ship schedules.

    very little information has been released but I just cam across this video apparently from a distant webcam.

    it shows the CC going east on GovCut and hitting the port side of the ferry. These things are brightly lit up and hard to miss especially against the dark back ground of the open channel.

    hard to understand how this happened.

    Collision happens about 2 minutes into the clip and is shown zoomed in near the end.

    Last edited: Jul 21, 2023
  2. JWY, Jul 21, 2023
    #2
    JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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    I lived on Fisher Island in the late 80s/early 90s and I was always impressed with the professional operation of the ferry crew. I on occasion was also impressed with the utter stupidity of some boaters. Knowing very little about this tragic accident, I would put my money on the FI Ferry as having been 100% in the right.
  3. YachtForums, Jul 22, 2023
    #3
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Another example of operators with good credit and bad judgment?
  4. Pascal, Jul 22, 2023
    #4
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Could be… but it was very late at night so what are the odds of alcohol NOT being involved ?

    Glad the ferry was hit on its port side as it pretty much clears the captain. Problem is that these FI Ferries often behave like they have some special privileges. Here is an example, not even a week after that collision

    I was heading into fisherman’s channel at 9kts. Ferry was crossing the channel… I had to come to a full stop as he insisted in squeezing between my bow and the rocks even though I was stand on. So many idiots in Miami these days that installed a DashCam!

    6A62FDAE-096B-418D-9E10-139D1756665F.jpeg
  5. Capt Ralph, Jul 22, 2023
    #5
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I had the same issue with the SFB Jax river taxis.
    Their crossing the channel from bank to bank.
    There are not any privileges owed to them.
    They cross the channel like you are not there.

    While back during a pretty day, I watched a tug (barge ahead) near flatten one taxi. Tug was on his horn for minutes, during and long after.
    I wonder how many brown spots needed a clean up after that event?

    My problem at the time, as much as I wanted to lay on my horns, make phone calls, scream and let folks how I felt;;;; At that time, I had to work along, near and sometimes with these SFBs and boat owners.

    When I worked Key Biscayne SeaTow, I had to be on my toes going thru there at night.
    Ferries and clue-less go fast boats. Also had to hold back.

    Now I'm not restricted and our air horns work very well.
    Luv that dash cam idea.
  6. Norseman, Jul 23, 2023
    #6
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Yes, I had a dash cam on my Albin 28TE the 5 years I ran her in South Florida.
    Had plenty close calls, especially on the New River and Biscayne Bay @ weekends, drunk driving galore, numerous close ones..
    Never had any close calls with the Fisher Island Ferries, they were on a schedule, I was not.
    (The most unpleasant run in that channel was a day or two after 9-11, we were inbound with a sailboat and a US Coast cutter was patrolling outbound with a manned machine gun on the foredeck, pointing at us. Told my wife to stick her blonde head out on the Port side deck to let them know we were not the typical Jihadist's and instead we came in piece.)