ON 6/17/23, AT APPROXIMATELY 18:20, I RESPONDED TO A VESSEL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT BLYTHE LANDING.  THE LANDING WAS HEAVILY CONGESTED WITH BOAT TRAFFIC AND INVOLVED TWO PONTOON BOATS.

VESSEL 1 WAS A RENTED PONTOON OPERATED BY V1 OPERATOR, AND WAS RETURNING TO THE DOCK AT THE AGREED TIME.  HE PLACED VESSEL 1 IN REVERSE TO REPOSITION IT.  HE DIDN'T REALIZE HOW CLOSE HE WAS TO THE DOCK BEHIND HIM AND PANICKED.  HE PUT VESSEL 1 IN FULL THROTTLE FORWARD.  HE BUMPED THE DOCK BEHIND HIM AND BUMPED INTO VESSEL 2 IN FRONT OF HIM.

VESSEL 2'S OWNER SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND JUMPED BACK ONTO HIS VESSEL THAT WAS DOCKED.  HE WAS GOINT TO TRY TO STOP THE IMPACT BY PUSHING VESSEL ONE AWAY.  HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO ND VESSEL 1 CRACKED THE ENGINE COWLING ON VESSEL 2.

ALL VESSELS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT HAD ALL REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON BOARD AND NO IMPAIRING SUBSTANCES WERE INVOLVED.  THE LACK OF BOATING EXPERIENCE IN HEAVILY CONGESTED WATERS WAS THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT.


***PLEASE NOTE:  THIS REPORT WAS MANUALLY ENTERED INTO BARD DUE TO CINTINUED TRANSMISSION ISSUES BETWEEN REPORT BEAM AND BARD. ***

*****BARD, PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS REPORT*****


**********END OF REPORT**********
LAKE NORMAN
HUNTERSVILLE                  