RedactedNarrative: ON JUNE 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1830, VESSEL ONE OPERATED BY OPERATOR STRUCK A SUBMERGED PIPE ON THE CATAWBA RIVER.  VESSEL ONE WAS TRAVELING UP STREAM ON THE CATAWBA RIVER RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN IT STRUCK THE PIPE. OPERATOR STATED THAT THE PIPE LOOKED LIKE A TRASH LINE GOING ACROSS THE RIVER AND HE COULD SEE SMALL RIPPLES IN THAT AREA.  OPERATOR STATED THAT HE HAS NAVIGATED THIS AREA SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND NEVER REMEMBERED ANYTHING BEING A NAVIGATIONAL HAZARD IN THAT AREA. VESSEL ONE STRUCK THE PIPE WITH THE LOWER UNIT AND IMMEDIATELY LOST STEERING AND THROTTLE CONTROL. THE LOWER UNIT WAS LEAKING OIL  AND SEVERAL BOLTS ARE BENT AND LOOSE.  THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT HAS SOME FIBER GLASS DAMAGE. OPERATOR STATED THE MOTOR KICKED TO ONE SIDE AND THE VESSEL TURNED 180 DEGREES IN THE WATER PRIOR TO STRIKING LAND. I RECIEVED THE SIGNAL 31 CALL ON JULY 1ST AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FROM RALEIGH DISPATCH.  MYSELF AND OFFICER 2 ARRIVED ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 ON JULY 1ST.  WHEN WE ARRIVED THE PIPE WAS STRETCHED ACROSS THE  RIVER WITH APPROXIMATELY 15FT OF CLEARANCE ON THE SOUTH SIDE BANK. MYSELF AND OFFICER 2 SPOKE TO THE BARGE OPERATOR THAT DAY. BARGE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE TIED THE PIPE OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 THE DAY BEFORE AND THAT THE PIPE WAS BLOCKING ABOUT HALF OF THE RIVER. 
  
  THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION WITH POSSIBLE CHARGES PENDING.
  
  **PLEASE NOTE:  WHEN THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE, THIS REPORT WILL BE UPDATED AT THAT TIME****
  
  ************END OF REPORT*****************