V1 was travelling South in ICW, V2 was travelling North in ICW being towed/pushed ahead by V3. V1 was temporarily on autopilot without a proper lookout. V1 collided bow to bow with V2.
(added from detailed narrative: I spoke to the owner and operator of V1 and he said that he was travelling at slow speed South in the ICW approaching channel marker 33 when he needed to use the restroom. He set the vessels steering on autopilot and asked his passenger to maintain lookout while he was temporarily away from the helm. OP1 went downstairs to the restroom and while he was inside, he felt the vessel stop abruptly and heard the collision. He came back upstairs to find that his vessel had collided head-on with V2, and he quickly took control of the helm. The initial collision with the crane caused damage to the upper station, knocking down a bimini top enclosure, part of the windshield, and a mast with radar and lights. The secondary collision with the steel barge caused significant fiberglass damage to the exterior of the bow below the anchor pulpit down to approximately 2 feet above the waterline. After the collision, V1 turned to port and its starboard side was resting against the bow of the barge, causing minor damage to the teak handrail before the vessels separated.
	On December 21st, I went to speak to the operator and crew of V2 and V3. The operator said that he was operating the tugboat and was pushing the crane barge to their construction project on the East 79th Street Bridge. Due to the size of the tugboat and barge, his vessel was constrained by draft and restricted in its ability to maneuver. Operator 3 was travelling North in the ICW at slow speed. He saw V1 ahead in the distance coming towards him, and began to slow his speed even more and began to sound his horn to alert the people on V1. As they got closer, OP3 put the tugboat in reverse and brought the vessel almost to a stop, while continuing to sound his horn. He and his crew were able to see that there was nobody at the helm in control of V1, and it collided with the crane and the bow of the barge. One of the crew quickly called law enforcement to report the collision.)

Intracoastal Waterway
MIAMI                         