RedactedNarrative: Operator #1 stated: "At approximately 11:45 pm I was heading inbound from Sandy Hook Bay looking for flashing Buoy #R2.  I didn't see it because the light was out and there was no visibility.  I knew I had passed it because it was behind me on the radar screen.  Then at the point where the channel turns south, I struck an unlighted barge that was sitting in the channel." 
  
  Witness #1 stated: "I was on lookout standing next to subject on the fly bridge.  The visibility was poor and it had been raining.  We had been looking for flashing buoy #2 as we had done so for years.  Subject was operating on radar due to the extremely poor visibility.  We were doing about 5 knots when we hit something.  I went down on the deck to check for damage and looked back and saw a large crane on a barge.  I wasn't sure what we hit. 
  
  Investigation revealed:  At approximately 2345 hour Operator #1 was heading inbound from Sandy Hook Bay aboard his vessel "Impresa".  He and his mate, witness #1, were heading toward Atlantis Yacht Club in Monmouth Beach.  The weather conditions at this time were rain with some patchy fog.  As a result of poor visibility , Operator #1 was operating by radar at a speed approximately 5  knots.  After turning to port to head south in the Shrewsbury River, vessel #1 struck steel batter pile with the starboard bow.  The steel pile is part of the breakwater system in the Shrewsbury River directly in front of the Sandy Hook Bay Marina in Highlands.  It is located in close proximity, approximately 100 feet outside the navigational channel.
  
  In conclusion, operator #1 accidentally steered his vessel outside the navigational channel.  As a result of this, and the low visibility level at the time caused the collision.
   