On June 15, 2013 at around 2100 hours, Operator was operating V1 inbound from offshore through the marked channel that leads to the mouth of the Barron River. After passing red marker #14, Operator stated that his lighting system on board his vessel failed. He stated that this caused him to miss the turn that he was required to make at green marker #15 at which time he impacted that marker. V1 struck marker #15 on the port side of the bow about four feet aft of the bow pulpit. The marker ran down the side of the boat causing a long scratch down to the midship section of the vessel. In addition, the glass windshield was broken out by the impact with the marker.

I went out to marker #15 on 06-17-2013 and confirmed that the steel I-beam was still in place but bent over. This is a lighted marker and the lightkit was knocked off due to the impact. I am unable to determine if the green flashing light on top of the marker was functional at the time of the collision.
Everglades