RedactedNarrative: On 5-10-2019 at approximately 0900 hours, I OFC. was on patrol in Deal Island MD when I was approached by an individual who told me while operating his documented vessel “Long Shot” he hit a submerged dredge pipeline on 5-4-2019 at approximately 1330 hours in the west channel leading to the town of Ewell in Smith Island MD, resulting in damage to his vessel.
  
              Operator stated while entered Ewell from the west channel he contacted the pipeline at the approximate GPS coordinates of 37°59'53.40"N by 76° 2'7.18"W at 1145 hours which he pointed out on Google Earth. He said he was looking forward going about 5 miles per hour when he hit the pipeline but he cleared it without issue. He said there were no signs or floats marking the submerged pipeline. Later at 1330 hours, while leaving Ewell in his vessel to head back to Deal Island he struck the submerged pipeline again. He said he attempted to avoid the pipeline by going approximately 100 feet to the side of where he originally hit the pipeline. This time, however, he struck the pipe hard enough to cause damage; he said he was going approximately 5 miles per hour when he struck the pipeline. He was stuck on the pipeline and could not free himself with the boats power so a nearby vessel had to pull him off the pipeline. His vessel began to vibrate and then the hydraulics lines to the steering burst and he lost all steering function. He said he had 12 people on board and no one was injured in the collision. After the collision he was towed back to Scotts Cover Marina in Chance MD where he docked his vessel.
  
                  On 5-7-2019 Operator told me he was able to have his boat pulled out of the water at Scotts Cove Marina where he was able to examine the extent of the damage. The keel of his vessel was bent and the wood had split at the joints in a few areas. There was one area where wood had broken off the keel and it was obvious the rudder assemble was bent significantly to the port side. The propeller had 4 blades and two of the blades had damage and were missing metal on the ends. The strut that supports the drive shaft was also bent to the port side as well as the rudder shaft and support. Operator estimated the damage would cost between seven to ten thousand dollars to repair.
  
                  Vortex Marine Construction Company has been clearing the channels in the area of Smith Island around Ewell and is responsible for the submerged pipeline. They were contacted 5-10-19 about the obstruction of the channel and at 1222 hours were going to adjust the submerged pipe and make the channel clear of obstructions. Operator was given the contact information of Vortex and told to make contact with them directly.
  
                  All events occurred in Somerset County.
  