ON 08-16-2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 05:30 PM, ALGOMA POLICE CHIEF ADVISED ME OF A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT ONE OF HIS OFFICERS HAD RESPONDED TO THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HE FORWARDED ME OFFICER REPORT. OFFICER HAD IDENTIFIED THE BOAT OPERATOR AS THE OWNER. I SPOKE WITH O1 ON THE TELEPHONE ON THE EVENING OF 08-21-2023. HE STATED HE AND HIS COMPANION WERE SOUTH OF ALGOMA ON LAKE MICHIGAN SALMON FISHING ON THE EVENING OF 08-15-2023. O1 STATED HE HAS A CHART PLOTTER AND HAD BEEN FOLLOWING A TRACK ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE BREAK WALL ENTRANCE. 

THEY ARRIVED BACK TO THE ALGOMA MARINA BETWEEN 09:00 PM AND 10:00 PM. HE STATED AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THE MOUTH OF THE BREAK WALL, HE OBSERVED A BOAT IN FRONT OF HIM WHICH WAS ALSO HEADING BACK TO SHORE BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY REQUIRED LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HE STATED THE OTHER BOAT WAS SLOWING DOWN AND IN ORDER TO GO AROUND HIM, O1 HAD TO THROTTLE BACK UP AND STEER TO THE NORTH. HE STATED THIS CHANGE IN SPEED AND DIRECTION, ALONG WITH THE SE WINDS CAUSED O1 TO GET CLOSER TO THE NORTH BREAK WALL THAN HE WANTED TO BE. HE STATED HE WAS TRAVELING AT
APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH WHEN HIS BOAT STRUCK THE RIP RAP ON THE INSIDE OF THE NORTH BREAK WALL NEXT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE. HE STATED HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE RIP RAP. HE STATED THE BOAT BEGAN TO TAKE ON SOME WATER SO HE PUT IT ON A TRAILER. HE STATED THE DAMAGE INCLUDED DENTED ALUMINUM ON THE BOTTOM STARBOARD SIDE OF THE BOAT, BROKEN RIVETS, DINGED PROP, BENT PROP SHAFT, DINGED SKEG, AND OIL LEAKING FROM SHAFT SEAL.
Lake Michigan
Algoma                        