RedactedNarrative: On 07/01/2020, I was on routine patrol on NRP vessel 154 in the area of the Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City, MD.  Around 930am we noticed an object floating in the waters that was drifting with the outgoing tide. Further investigation revealed a roughly 5 foot section of piling that was adrift with only about 6 inches exposed above the water. Due to the danger posed and possible hazard of navigation, we secured the piling with a line and towed it back to the commercial harbor boat ramp for public works to dispose of. After safely removing the piling from the water we were approached by one of the boat operators for Towboat US. He stated that he received a call the day prior that a vessel had struck an object in the area of The Thorofare and that the vessel was left in the marsh. After getting confirmation the boat was still in the area we started that way.
  
  Upon arrival to The Thorofare around 10am we noticed a vessel fitting the description bearing Maryland Registration numbers 4944 BM with visible damage to the portside and aft portions of the vessel being towed away. We made contact the owner of the vessel Operator 1 who was on the towing vessel. OPERATOR 1 stated that on June 30, 2020 around 630pm, he and his son were cruising through the Thorofare headed west back towards the Pines when they struck an object that they could not see. He was not sure what it was but stated it was submerged under water and thinks it might have been a piling. He said the weather was perfect, water was flat, and they were doing about 30knots with no visible sign of anything in the water until it was too late. After the impact OPERATOR 1 stated that he got the boat to the marsh area off the end of Golf Course Rd. He contacted Towboat Us and called a friend to come pick him and his son up. Because there were no injuries he did not think that the Natural Resources Police needed to be called and he was more concerned with getting his son to shore and the vessel to the marsh before it sank. OPERATOR 1 did not use Towboat US services but returned in the morning with a neighbor to retrieve his boat and that is the time that NRP arrived.
  When the vessel was taken out of the water at Gum Point Road boat ramp, the extent of the damages were visible and he believes that the vessel is a complete loss. Photos were taken of all the damages and vessel was trailered to OPERATOR 1’s community storage lot. OPERATOR 1 contacted Allstate Insurance on June 30th and was provided a claim.
  All events occurred in Worcester County, MD.
  