A sailboat struck an empty barge located near the Manette Bridge in Bremerton.

Operator suffered a compound fracture to the leg.  Damage to the vessel was classified as not severe.  The vessel was towed by Vessel Assist to the Port Orchard Marina and never took on water.  

A USCG small boat from Station Seattle responded to the incident and was handling it.  When the Pt Orchard Police Department patrol vessel moved in to assist they were called off lby the CG and told it would be handled by them.  

State Parks worked with the investigation section in Sector Seattle and was only able to obtain a brief notice of the incident from LT, Asst. Chief of Investigations Division in USCG Sector Puget Sound.  The Coast Guard did not open an investigation or submit provide the state/federal required Boat Accident Report to the operator/owner.

Three phone callse were made to number Operator provided to the CG and messages were left.  No return phone calls were made.  The WA Dept. of Natural Resources indicated they thought the vessel was abandonded and were unable to track the owner down because the vessel  had no registration numbers or valid state decal.  

No further information on this incident is available as of 02/29/12.
Bremerton                     