Vessel taking on water at dock.

On 7/3/2023 at approximately 3:15 Pm while on routine patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a call of a vessel taking on water at Marina Del Mar Resort Marina in Key Largo, Florida (Monroe County. FL). When I arrived on scene there was a 46 foot Sea Ray tied to the dock. The vessel was sitting in the water below the water line with a large pump on the deck actively pumping water out. There was a Tow Boat US vessel on scene keeping the vessel afloat. I spoke with the individuals who were on the vessel earlier in the day. They said they stopped for lunch at Skippers and when they came back to the vessel it was taking on water. I asked if they had hit anything that day and they responded no. I documented all of their identifications. I then spoke to the captain of the vessel and asked him what happened. He gave the same response as the occupants of the vessel. I asked him if he hit anything and he responded no. I asked him for the registration for the vessel. He provided the registration. The Tow Boat US captain came up from below deck and I asked him what was going on. He said the shaft seal on the starboard engine had ripped apart and was causing water to pour into the hull around the shaft. He said he would not be able to tow the vessel to get hauled out until he pulled the prop off or secured the shaft to keep it from spinning. I got phone number and told him I would call him the next day to find out where he got the vessel hauled out. 
This incident was captured on my state issued body worn camera. 

On July 4th, 2023 I spoke to them and he told me the vessel was hauled out at Coral Bay Marina in Islamorada, Florida. I stopped by Coral Bay Marina to look at the vessel. It was still sitting in the sling on the lift. I was able to see the bottom of the vessel and there was no sign of any damage due to impact with any object. All of the fiberglass was in good condition.   

On July 12th, 2023 I returned to Coral Bay Marina to look at the vessel while it was on stands in the dry lot. I entered the vessel with one of the marina employees that was working on the vessel. He was pumping water out of the bow section of the vessel. I asked him what caused the leak and he said the shaft seal on the starboard engine was ripped. I asked if I could see it and he said yes and showed me where to look. I entered the engine room and saw the shaft seal was ripped. I photographed the damage to the shaft seal.
atlantic ocean
KEY LARGO                     