RedactedNarrative: On 06/15/2021 the vessel was being operated on Lake Okeechobee in Route 2 of the Okeechobee Waterway.   The vessel was approaching where Route 1 and Route 2 meet at Port Myacca Lock. The Vessel struck a fixed object underwater possibly due to low water conditions or being outside the marked channel in Lake Okeechobee.  The operator was aware of the collision, but did not know extent of damage.  The vessel continued through the Port Myacca Lock into the St. Lucie Canal.  Several miles later the vessel was overcome with water due to the damage from the collision with a fixed object.  The vessel sank in the Saint Lucie Canal.
  While speaking with OP1 I asked him if he had ever operated a vessel this large before to which he said no.  I also asked him about the Okeechobee Waterway.  He said that he had looked online and figured that he could make it across since he drafted 4.5 feet.  A check of the US Army Corp Website for Okeechobee Waterway revealed that the lake level was 12.50 feet and the navigable depth for Route 1 was 6.44 feet in depth and 4.63 feet for Route 2.  I asked OP1 why he did not use Route 1 over Rout 2 to which he replied he thought about it due to saving gas, but Route 2 seemed better with the wind.  It Should also be noted that Route 2 when shallow is extremely dangerous outside of the channel makers due to large rocks.  Also, where Route 2 meet Route 1 it makes a series of turns to avoid large rocks, in the past many vessels abandon the channel due to meeting points of the two Routes being so close which causes many grounding's of vessel in this area.
  