Vessel 1 was traveling down river.  Vessels 2, 3, 4 and 5 were anchored towards the north shore line facing up river with vessel 5 being the closest to shore (8 to 10 feet).  Other unidentified Vessels were also anchored in the channel towards the south bank.  Once the Captain of vessel 1 noticed the congested waters approximately one half mile down river of his location, he sounded the warning horn for one long continuous blast.  Operator1 noticed that the unidentified vessels directly in his path were not moving (on the south to center part of the channel).  Again at approximately one quarter mile up stream from the anchored vessels Operator1 sounded his warning horn for one long continuous blast.  Operator1 then told me he got onto the marine radio to try and warn anyone anchored of the upcoming danger.  When he got no response he told me that he got onto the loud speaker of the vessel and yelled at the vessels to move out of the way.  The lookouts of vessel 1 meanwhile had heard the first warning horn while they were under the deck and came up to the bridge to see what was wrong.  When Operator1 sounded the warning horn for the second time the two lookouts went out to the deck to relay information to the captain about where the other vessels were.  Once Vessel 1 came closer to the congested waters, Operator1 told me he was "overwhelmed" by the number of vessels anchored in the channel and the amount of congestion.  Fearing he was going to have a major collision with the unidentified vessels previously mentioned, Operator1 made a change in course and put the engines in full reverse to try and slow the vessel.  

In doing so vessel 1 started to drift to the north side of the river.  Not realizing they were in any danger, vessels 2, 3, 4, and 5 had not yet pulled anchor and moved.  They all started to pull up anchor when they realized that vessel 1 was getting close to them.  Vessel 1 was not able to stop in time to avoid colliding with vessel 2.  The starboard nose of vessel one also struck the north shore of the river.  When vessel 1 struck vessel 2, it sent vessels 2, 3, 4 and 5 into the rocky shore line as they had been tied together.  Vessel 1 did not realize he had made contact with vessel 2 and continued down river.  Vessels 2, 3, 4 and 5 all sustained damage (see attached photographs) from the collision and being pushed into the rocky shoreline.  Upon speaking with operators from vessels 2, 3, 4 and 5 all said they either did not hear a warning horn from vessel 1 or only heard it once.  All said they did hear Operator1 come over the loud speaker and warn them of the danger and told them to move.  Written statements (See attached Supplemental) were obtained from the operators of vessels 2, 3, 4 and 5.


* A supplemental report will be completed and attached containing Non-Electronic Attachments.
Peru                          