V1 IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT VESSEL OF THE BRADENTON BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT ON ASSIGNMENT ASSISTING WITH THE ANNUAL FLOTILLA IN THE TAMPA BAY.  V1 WAS DISPATCHED TO A VESSEL THAT WAS VIOLATING OTHER VESSEL'S RIGHT OF WAY CRUISING IN THE FLOTILLA. DURING THIS ACTION, V1 OPERATOR TURNED V1 TO THE PORT SIDE TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE VIOLATOR VESSEL DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED.  DUE TO THIS ACTION, IT CAUSED V1 TO MOVE INTO A DIRECT PATH OF V2 WHICH WAS CRUISING IN THE SEDDON CHANNEL IN A FLOTILLA.  V1 POWERED UP AND TURNED TO THE PORT IN THE PATH OF V2.  V2 OPERATOR DECREASED SPEED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH V1.  V2 WAS LIMITED IN ITS ABILITY TO CHANGE COURSE DUE TO THE CONGESTED VESSEL TRAFFIC IN THE FLOTILLA.  THE DECREASING OF SPEED BY V2 WAS THE ONLY ACTION AVAILABLE TO V2.  V1 OBSERVED V2 APPROCHING HIS LOCATION.  V1 MADE A HARD STARBOARD TURN IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH V2, BUT FAILED TO AVOID THE COLLISION.  V1 RECEIVED STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO THE PORT SIDE OF THE VESSEL.  V2 RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE BOW OF THE VESSEL AND ANCHOR AREA.
TAMPA                         