On 05/27/2023 around 1400 hours a boat accident occurred in Delaware waters and the Division was not notified. A 47'' vessel which is displayed on AIS and originally named "Somerset", was traveling south in the shipping channel and collided with green channel marker 35. The USCG responded to the accident and removed the operator and a passenger from the sinking vessel onto a patrol boat and transported them to Cape May, New Jersey. The vessel took on water and began to sink near green channel marker 35. There were two subjects on board Somerset at the time of the accident. The operator of the vessel was Operator and the passenger was Passenger. The vessel was anchored by the USCG at the location of 39 15.6'' N and 075 19.19'' W in the Delaware Bay. The New Jersey State Police began the investigation due to the information provided and location uncertainty at the time of the accident. Once confirmed the accident occurred in Delaware waters the Division was contacted on 05/28/2023. No injuries occurred in this accident. Operator was contacted by Sgt 1 around 2000 hours. Operator and his passenger were currently in Atlantic City boarding a plane back to Florida. Operator and Passenger stayed in a Cape May hotel the night of 05/27/2023. Due to the miscommunication, Sgt 1 was unable to interview Operator in person. The writer requested a written statement for reporting purposes. Due to weather conditions, the top of the vessel detached itself from the hull and began floating in the Delaware Bay. It was recovered and anchored in Duck Creek in the area of Woodland Beach on the Delaware coast. 
On 06/01/2023 Sea Tow out of Cape May patched and refloated vessel and Corporal 2 responded to Boat World Marina in New Jersey to document and photograph the vessel. 
Operator provided a written statement. Within that statement Operator informed Sgt 1 he was the person operating at the time of the collision. Operator stated he was plotting a course into Cape May on his iPad when the collision occurred. Passenger was on the back deck smoking a cigar at the time of the collision. Operator and passenger did not know what the vessel struck. According to AIS data the vessel was traveling at 27.2 knots at the time of the accident which occurred at 1333 hours. At 1334 hours the vessel''s speed decreased to 7.9 knots. Operator immediately contacted the United States Coast Guard and Sea Tow for assistance. Operator stated he drove into the water and attempted to plug a hole in the bow with a mattress cover to prevent sinking. Operator and Passenger were given floatation devices and transported to Cape May by the USCG. 
The owner of the vessel was contacted. The owner hired Operator to operate his newly purchased vessel from Florida and operate it North to New York. Tow Boat US has been hired by the insurance company to recover the top. Operator is in violation of inattentive operation for failing to maintain a proper lookout while underway and negligent operation of a vessel.
Delaware Bay
Leipsic                       