On 09/01/2012 at around 8:30 pm, it was reported that vessel 1, a 38ft fountain named Four Reel, was traveling east in the ICW and vessel 2, a pushboat named Dan L along with 2 barges, was heading west in the ICW.  The operator of vessel 1 claims that as they approached the ICW intersection in Chocolate Bay, the operator of vessel 2 was panning the ICW from side to side but aimed his spotlight directly at them a couple of times.  Vessel 1 then turned on his spotlight a couple of times indicating they had “limited visibility”, and that they “were approaching him”.  Vessel 1 reported that he turned on his spotlight and came off plane; vessel 2 turned on his spotlight and left it aimed at vessel 1.  The operator of vessel 1 claims that he could not see anything except for the light.  Then he claims that they went into the barge’s shadow and it was shortly after that when they realized that they were right in front of the barge and about to collide.  One of the occupants of vessel 1 yelled for the operator to go, the operator gave the vessel full throttle and turned to the right, but it was too late to avoid the collision.
There were no injuries reported.
The collision occurred in the ICW near buoys 17-18 in Chocolate Bay.
Vessel 1 has damage to the port motor, T-top, and cracks and scratches on port side of vessel.  Damage to vessel 2 was not reported.
No equipment failure known.
No alcohol or drug use known.