Coast Guard Investigating Ferry Collision in U.S. Virgin Islands

Photo credit: Varlack Ventures

U.S. Coast Guard marine investigators are trying to determine the cause of a collision between a passenger ferry and a commercial sailing vessel which occurred Wednesday evening at Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Coast Guard was notified at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday that the passenger ferry Capitol Venture and the sailing vessel New Horizons had collided about a half nautical mile east from the Red Hook Channel entrance in Saint Thomas.

Following the collision, the Capitol Venture, carrying 176 passengers and five crew, continued to make way to the Red Hook ferry terminal, while the New Horizons, with 24 persons and four crewmembers onboard, proceeded to Sapphire Marina, where they were met by investigators.

No major injuries have been reported from the passengers onboard the ferry, while a minor toe injury was reported from one person aboard the sailing vessel.

As of Thursday, investigators were in the process of conducting damage assessments of each vessel, however no signs of pollution were detected from either vessel following the collision.

The investigation is being conducted by the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Saint Thomas.

The Capitol Venture ferry is operated by Varlack Ventures and runs regular service between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John.