RedactedNarrative: On Thursday, October 26th, 2017 at approximately 1515 hours, Operator was operating his 50'' Sea Ray southbound on the Calumet River. Operator was following a commercial barge down the river and attempted to traverse under the 106th street bridge. The bridge tender raised the bridge following a hail from a commercial barge/tug and began lowering the bridge once the barge cleared the bridge. The Bridge tender stated her vision was obstructed by the light of the sun and was unable to see Operator’s vessel transiting the river. The Bridge tender did not recall another vessel requesting bridge operation. 
  
  Operator stated he was following the barge and did not hail the bridge because it was already raised when his vessel neared it. Operator''s vessel was entering the area under the bridge as the bridge was being lowered. Operator''s vessel did not have enough clearance and struck the bridge. The impact caused stress fractures in the fiberglass on the flying bridge as well as breaking the GPS/Radar dome off of the housing on the top of the vessel. An estimate of the repair cost is attached as well as photographs of the vessel and bridge.
  
  Operator''s inexperience as an operator in the Lake Michigan and Chicagoland river system directly contributed to the collision with the 106th street bridge.
  
  Operator was issued a citation for Unlawful operation of an unnumbered watercraft. His vessel is currently not registered with the State of Illinois or any other state, nor is it federally documented.