Vessel #1: Statement provided by (Captain of and responsible for V1) 
"We had been anchored out for about 3-4 hours. I had left my vessel for a period of time. When I arrived back my vessel was not in the location I left it. While I left my anchor had come loose and we were a drift. by the time my passengers realized we were drifting we had drifted onto someone’s anchor line. My passengers kept my boat from coming in contact with anyone else's boat. There was no contact made at all from my boat to another boat. A passenger of mine had a jet ski and they attempted to pull me to open water to a safer location. At this time the coast guard had come on board and they decided it was best to cut the anchor line of the boat (i believe it was a crownline). After that boat was cut from us our anchor re-attached which is when i got back to my boat. I then fired my engines, pulled my anchor up and we drove away under our own power. We did not have any line caught in our propulsion because we were not underway when we got on the crownlines anchor, we simply drifted onto their line." 

Vessel #2: Statement provided by (Captain V2)
"I arrived back to the boat I was on and noticed the situation.  A large vessel has crossed our anchor line causing our boat to become adrift. I boarded/took over operation of the boat. My wife and I tried releasing additional anchor line to attempt to dislodge our anchor but we were attached to the approaching boat. At this point, an officer from a Coast Guard vessel boarded our boat, cut our anchor line which released us from the approaching boat, but unfortunately caused us to drift into a nearby anchored boat and collide on the Starboard side of the boat we were on. I then drove the boat out of the congested area of the bay and awaited the boat owner/captain's arrive onto the boat. At that point, the State Police Vessel tied up to us and we provided our information as well as a recap of the incident.  A few minutes after our interview with the State Police Vessel, the boat owner boarded the boat and we headed home."

"The motor was on but it was in neutral when the coast guard cut the line.   After marking contact with the other boat I then moved it boat out to a safe location."

Statement provided by V2 (passenger of V2 with boating safety certification)

"On Saturday July 29, 2023, We were guests on our Friend's Boat and went to Barnegat bay for the day. We arrived in the bay by boat at approximately 12 noon and anchored the boat in the bay at that same time, as did many other boats for the day's events."

"At approximately 2:30 PM, I was the only person on the boat, facing Aft when someone from a neighboring boat screamed "Look out, Look out". I turned towards the Forward end of the boat to see an approx.. 40Ft boat heading towards the anchored boat that I was on. The approaching boat was clearly out of control and there was a man sitting on the starboard side of the boat attempting to intercept the oncoming collision of our 2 boats. 

The captain/owner of the oncoming boat was not present as evidenced by them indicating that the captain of their boat was not the owner/operator of the boat. The approaching boat was rubbing up against our bow despite attempts by myself and the man on the starboard side of the boat to keep the boats apart. 

The approaching boat then had a jet ski attach to its aft end with a tow rope in an attempt to pull the approaching boat out of the bay. At this point I saw that the approaching boat was over the boat I was on anchor line and I yelled up to the boat operator "you are Over my anchor line and you are going to pull me up !!" 

They proceeded to drive over our anchor line and dislodge the anchor of the boat I was on and our anchor line was now attached to the approaching boat and both vessels were being dragged out of the bay by the jet ski. 

At this point, my husband, arrived back to the boat I was on and boarded/took over operation of the boat. He and I tried releasing additional anchor line to attempt to dislodge our anchor but we were attached to the approaching boat. At this point, an officer from a Coast Guard vessel boarded our boat, cut our anchor line which released us from the approaching boat, but unfortunately caused us to drift into a nearby anchored boat and collide on the Starboard side of the boat we were on. Husband then drove the boat out of the congested area of the bay and awaited the boat owner/captain's arrive onto the boat. At that point, the State Police Vessel tied up to us and we provided our information as well as a recap of the incident.  A few minutes after our interview with the State Police Vessel, the boat owner boarded the boat and we headed home."

Vessel #3: Statement by (Captain of V3, boating safety certificate)

"I was captaining a 32 ft Sea Ray Sundancer owned by my father and anchored out at Tices Shoal on 7/29. Soon after we arrived and anchored, I noticed a large ~40 ft cruiser and ~25 ft Crownline that appeared to be tangled together about 100 yards from the port side of our boat. The boats were tangled near their bows and a PWC appeared to be towing the 40ft cruiser from its stern in an attempt to free the boat from being tangled. About a minute passed and I realized the PWC was effectively towing both boats closer to us. I instructed all passengers (some of whom were in the water) to board our vessel and began pulling out bumpers to deploy in case the boats came close."

"Within seconds, the 40ft cruiser came dangerously close to our boat. Passengers aboard both our vessel and the cruiser succeeded in preventing the cruiser from colliding into our boat by applying physical force against guardrails to keep them apart. Our passengers also deployed bumpers to aid in this--the passengers of the cruiser did not utilize any similar equipment to aid at any point. Shortly after we prevented collision with the cruiser, it became clear to me both that the boats had been successfully untangled and that USCG had arrived on scene and boarded the Crownline. I do not recall if USCG boarded the cruiser at any point. I am also not certain whether USCG cut the line entangling the two boats, but I do believe it is a possibility as at least one USCG officer was onboard the Crownline and standing near the bow around the time that the boats were successfully disentangled."

"Very shortly after avoiding collision and being freed from entanglement with the Crownline, the 40 ft cruiser began to leave the scene. At least one passenger aboard the cruiser appeared to be visibly intoxicated and was dancing while making lewd hand gestures at surrounding boats while the boat left the scene."

"Very shortly after we prevented the 40 ft cruiser from colliding with our boat, the Crownline approached our vessel on the port side. The boat's engine(s) were operating and the captain was at the helm, but he was panicked and unable to regain control of his boat, which was being pushed closer to ours partly due to heavy winds. Myself and other passengers attempted to hold the Crownline at bay via bumpers and pressure on guardrails. A USCG officer aboard the Crownline was also applying pressure to our guardrail in an attempt to prevent collision. The captain of the crownline remained visibly panicked, apologizing to us while saying that the captain of the other boat had gotten tangled in his line, and asking the USCG officer to tell him what to do. To my recollection, the USCG officer did not provide any particular direction but remained focused on applying pressure to our guardrail. After a few seconds the Crownline captain very suddenly and quickly reversed his engine, causing his boat to swing abruptly to the right as it backed away. At this point, his starboard rubrail collided with heavy force into our anchor cradle.

BARNEGAT BAY
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP             