VESSEL NUMBER 2 OPERATOR HAD TAKEN HIS BOAT OUT ON A TEST RUN.  AS HE RETURNED TO HIS DOCK HE PROCEEDED TO DOCK HIS BOAT.  AS OPERATOR NUMBER 2 ATTEMPTED TO DOCK HIS BOAT THE AIR LINE FOR THE SHIFTER BURNT LOOSE (NO LONGER WORKING).  THIS CAUSED HIM TO BE UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE OR FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD.  NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OR STEER THE BOAT THE CURRENT FROM THE ICW PUSHED HIM INTO VESSEL NUMBER 1.  AT THIS TIME VESSEL NUMBER 1 ACTED AS A BUMPER, STOPPING VESSEL NUMBER 2.  VESSEL NUMBER 1 WAS DOCKED APPROXIMATELY 60 YARDS FROM VESSEL NUMBER 2'S DOCK.  WHEN VESSEL NUMBER 2 STRUCK VESSEL NUMBER 1, VESSEL NUMBER 1 WAS DAMAGED.  THE LEFT REAR PORTION OF THE BOAT WAS CAVED IN DUE TO THE IMPACT.  THIS DAMAGE TO VESSEL NUMBER 1 CAUSED THE VESSEL TO TAKE ON WATER; IN TURN THIS CAUSED THE BILGE PUMP TO RUN EXCESSIVELY FROM THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WAS COMING IN.  BOTH VESSELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH ALL REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT BUT THE USE OF ANY WASN'T NECESSARY.  ALCOHOL AND OR DRUGS WERE NOT DETECTED IN THIS INVESTIGATION.  NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO FAULTY MACHINERY/EQUIPMENT AND NEITHER OPERATOR WAS AT FAULT.  AT THE TIME OF THE INVESTIGATION BOTH OPERATORS WERE IN AGREEMENT OF HOW THEY WERE GOING TO HANDLE THE ACCIDENT.
BEAUFORT CITY                 