RedactedNarrative: On Monday, February 7, 2022, at approximately 0903 hours, I, OFC., of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, received a call for service regarding a single vessel collision with a day marker that had occurred one day prior, on January 6, 2022. I made contact with the vessel owner. Operator advised that he was the single occupant and operator of the vessel at the time of the collision and there were no injuries as a result. He was wearing an inflatable type V PFD during the duration of his trip. He advised that he would meet me at Herrington Harbor 'North', located at 389 Deale Road, Tracy's Landing, MD 20779, to discuss the incident. The damaged vessel was towed to Herrington Harbor 'North', by TowBoat U.S., from the location of the collision. The location of the collision was at the channel entrance to Herrington Harbor 'South,' located at 7149 Lake Shore Drive, North Beach, MD, 20714.
  
                      At approximately 1100 hours on Monday, February 7, 2022, I made contact with Operator at Herrington Harbor 'North'. He explained that on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at approximately 1603 hours, he departed the vessels hailing port of, Shipwright Harbor at the convergence of Tracy's and Rockhold Creeks, to get fuel at Herrington Harbor 'South', approximately 3.5 nautical miles away. He was operating his 48' Leopard catamaran, manufactured in 2015 by Robertson and Caine Inc. The vessel's Maryland registration was 8812DC and it's USCG documentation number was 1259841. He was headed south toward Herrington Harbor 'South' , under diesel motor propulsion, passing the red #2 day marker on his port side when he began a slow turn to his starboard toward the green #2 day marker. While he was making the turn at a speed no greater than 6 knots, the vessel began to swerve on its own. In doing this, he realized that the auto pilot had kicked on. He did not have any time to disengage the auto pilot prior to colliding with the green #2 day marker. The collision occurred at approximately 1630 hours. The port bow made contact first with the day marker pole, and subsequently snapped the cross beam that connects the starboard bow to the port bow. The caused the mast to snap in half and fold down into the water. The port bow fiberglass suffered substantial damage down to the waterline, see attachments for pictures of damage.
  
                  Operator has well over 35 years of boating experience, 25 of which were in the Navy. A safety inspection was conducted on the vessel, showing 6 fire extinguishers, 20 life jackets, and all other safety gear necessary for operation in US navigable waters. At the time of the collision, these were the following conditions:
                                                                                      Air Temp: 35 degrees F
                                                                                      Water Temp: 36 degrees F
                                                                                      Vessel Traffic: NONE
                                                                                      Wind:       Southeast 0-6 MPH                                 
                                                                                      Waves: NONE
                                                                                      Current: NONE
                                                                                      Light: Daylight/Dusk
                                                                                      Weather: Clear
  
              After further investigation, it was deemed that Operator's vessel had a mechanical failure from the auto pilot, which resulted in his vessel colliding with the green #2 day marker at the entrance to Herrington Harbor 'South'. No charges will be placed against Operator due to the above findings. Operator has since contacted his insurance company, National Casualty Company. Operator estimates that the damages to the vessel exceed $100,000. The vessel will be hauled out of the water by Herrington Harbor 'North' personnel and an agent from National Casualty Company will be assessing the damage. The report number was given to Operator for insurance purposes.
  
  All events occurred in Anne Arundel County, MD.
  
  This case is closed.
  