ON AUGUST 19, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 19:45 SERGEANT 2 AND I RESPONDED TO A VESSEL INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON LAKE NORMAN, AT THE NORTH HARBOR CLUB. THE MARINA AREA IS A HEAVILY CONGESTED AREA THAT IS NARROW AND LEAVES VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR MANEUVERING VESSELS. THE INCIDENT INVOLVED AN UNDERWAY PONTOON BOAT AND A DOCKED CABIN CRUISER.

VESSEL ONE WAS A PONTOON OPERATED BY V1 OPERATOR. VESSEL ONE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DOCK AND OFF LOAD THE ELEVEN PASSENGERS WHEN PEOPLE BEGAN YELLING AT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS ABOUT TO HIT A DOCKED VESSEL. V1 OPERATOR PANICKED AND RATHER THAN GOING FULL THROTTLE REVERSE, PUT THE PONTOON IN FULL THROTTLE FORWARD. VESSEL ONE COLLIDED WITH VESSEL TWO, A DOCKED 34-FOOT CABIN CRUISER OWNED BY V2 OWNER. V2 OWNER AND HIS PARTY WERE PRESENT AT DOCK AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. VESSEL ONE HIT VESSEL TWO'S BOW ANCHOR SUPPORT RIGGING BENDING IT AND CHIPPING THE FIBERGLASS. VESSEL TWO ALSO HAD BLACK PAINT TRANSFER SCUFFS ALONG THE KEEL OF THE BOW. VESSEL TWO RECEIVED MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE STARBOARD BOW AREA, INCLUDING BENT RAILING, SIDING, BIMINI TOP, AND TORN SEAT BACKS.

ALL VESSELS HAD REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT ONBOARD, AND NO IMPAIRING SUBSTANCES WERE INVOLVED. THE LACK OF BOATING EXPERIENCE IN TIGHTLY CONFINED AREAS WAS THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO KNOWN INJURIES REPORTED.  NO CHARGES WERE MADE IN THIS INCIDENT.
LAKE NORMAN
DAVIDSON                      