VESSEL ONE WAS POSITIONING A BARGE FOR A FIREWORKS DISPLAY. THE AREA WAS DESIGNATED A SAFETY ZONE BY THE USCG. VESSEL 1 OBSERVED VESSEL 2 APPROACHING AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. VESSEL TWO STATES THAT VESSEL ONE BACKED IN FRONT OF HIM AND THEY COLLIDED.  THERE WERE NO INDEPENDENT WITNESSES.  OPERATOR ONE HOLDS A CAPTAINS LICENSE. SECTOR BALTIMORE WAS NOTIFIED AND WILL CONDUCT A FOLLOWUP.
ESSEX                         