On November 27, 2013 at approximately 2107hrs I received a call from dispatch in reference to a boating accident involving three vessels.  The accident location was the Dania Cut-Off Canal at the Harbour Towne Marina.  The Vessels involved were The Caribbean Express I (V-1), The Mistress (V-2), and an Intrepid 32' with FL7037MH (V-3).  
      I arrived on scene at approximately 2133hrs.   According to all witness accounts, The G & G Shipping freighter named " Caribbean Express I" was leaving the docks of G & G Shipping yard at approximately 2030Hrs. V-1 was leaving stern first, entering the Dania Cut-Off Canal.  As V-1 began to position itself to head eastbound in the Dania Cut-Off Canal, V-1 lost steerage, causing it to begin drift towards the south side of the Dania Cut-Off Canal where the V-2 and V-3 were docked.
      V-1 eventually drifted into V-3. V-1s starboard stern corner made contact with the starboard side of V-3 pushing it against the docks and causing significant damage to the rub rails and unknown structural damage.
      At this time, V-1 started moving eastbound at a very slow rate and made contact with V-2. V-1s starboard side pressed and rubbed against the starboard side of V-2 for a few minutes. V-1 was able to regain control, remove itself off of V-2 and continue down the Dania Cut-Off Canal.  The visual damage caused by this accident was to the starboard side rub rail of V-2, however, the structural damage to V-2 is unknown.

Conclusion:

 I spoke with the Captain of the Caribbean Express  I, on Sunday Dec 1, 2013.  According to him, the cause of the accident was the loss of power to V-1s Thrusters.  He stated that he was backing into the channel ( Dania Cut-Off) and was attempting to straighten up to head east when his thrusters did not function properly, causing him to drift into the two vessels docked at the marina (Harbour Towne) on the other side of the channel.

I conclude that the boating accident was caused by mechanical failure on the Caribbean Express I.
DANIA BEACH