Occupant #1 stated in effect:  We were underway from the Two Mile Landing Bridge to Bree Zee Lee Marina.  Operator was operating at the helm, and I was standing beside him on the starboard side.  I was watching for the red channel markers and Operator was watching for the green channel markers.  We were in the middle of the channel.  It was dark, and we were traveling into the wind.  We were going moving at 15 to 25 mph.  I never saw the dredgepipe before we hit it, and Operator never slowed down before we hit the pipe.  We struck the dredgepipe, which was in the channel and was unlit.  We were both ejected into the water on impact.  I kept calling for Operator, but I never saw him again.  The motor shut off on impact, and I was able to climb up the motor to get back into the boat.  I used Operator' phone to call for help.  I had my life jacket on when we crashed.  Operator did not have his life jacket on at the time of the crash.

Responding USCG Small Boat Coxwain BM2 stated in effect: The unlit stack of dredge pipes had broken free of its mooring and drifted across the channel.  We had to steer around the pipes, which were in the channel.  

Investigation at the scene revealed:

Vessel #1 was underway and on plane in Cape May Harbor traveling West from Two Mile Landing Bridge towards its dock at Bree Zee Lee Marina.  Operator #1 was at the helm and Occupant #1 was standing on the starboard side of the center console steering station.  A stack of dredge pipelines, approximately 480 feet in length, maintained by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC. broke free from its mooring and drifted into the marked navigable channel of Cape May Harbor in the vicinity of Cape May Harbor green marker number "7." 

Vessel #1 struck the pipeline, and both Operator #1 and Occupant #1 were ejected from the vessel as a result of the collision.  Operator #1 sustained injuries to the right side of his head as a result of a suspected impact with Vessel #1 during this ejection.  

During the course of the collision with the pipeline, a three-strand rope fouled the propeller of Vessel #1 causing the motor to seize.  Occupant #1 was able to reboard the vessel at this time and located a cell phone to call 911.  Occupant #1 sustained no injuries and was rescued and brought to USCG Station Cape May.  Operator #1 was located face down and unresponsive some time later by a good Samaritan vessel.  Cape May County Dive Team removed Operator #1 from the water and transported him to USCG Station Cape May.  Operator #1 was pronounced deceased at this time as a result of his injuries.  An exact cause of death for Operator #1 is not known at the time of this report.

Vessel #1 sustained damage to its keel at the bow as well as to the front of the lower unit of the motor.  Vessel #1 began taking on water as a result of the collision with the pipeline and was dewatered by USCG small boat crews until it was removed from the scene to Bree Zee Lee Marina by Towboat US.  Vessel #1 was removed by the travel lift at Bree Zee Lee Marina for further investigation.

The primary cause of this accident is attributed to an unsecured stack of dredge pipelines that drifted into the marked navigable channel.  What caused the dredge pipelines to break free is still under investigation by the United States Coast Guard at the time of this report.  In addition to the dredge pipeline being in the marked navigable channel, it was reported by both Occupant #1 and the responding USCG vessel crew members that the pipeline was also not properly lit at the time of the crash as required by the United States Code of Federal Regulations.  An additional contributing factor to this accident is Vessel #1's speed in the prevailing dark lighting conditions.  It should be noted that both occupants of Vessel #1 were maintaining a proper lookout at the time of the crash and that Vessel #1 was not equipped with a RADAR.  In addition, Operator #1 was not wearing his safety lanyard. 

This case is pending the Medical Examiner's report and issuance of the death certificate.

CAPE MAY HARBOR
CAP MAY CITY                  