V1 SAS NORTHBOUND FOLLOWING ANOTHER VESSEL.  AS VESSELS CROSSED NEEDLE POINT, V1 BECAME STUCK ON SUBMERGED ROCKS.  OPERATOR OF V1 STATED THAT THE VESSEL HE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HAD MADE IT ACROSS THE AREA WITHOUT PROBLEM BUT THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO.  THE AREA IS MARKED WITH TWO HAZARD AREA BUOYS.  OPERATOR OF V1 STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE BUOYS DUE TO DARKNESS.  AREA OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APPROX .35 MILE EAST OW THE WEST SHORELINE AND APPROX .34 MILE NORTH OF THE SOUTH SHORELINE AND APPROX 2.1 MILES WEST OF THE EAST SHORELINE.
TAHLEQUAH                     