Coast Guard Investigates Trawler-Sailboat Crash South of Montauk

Off of Conneticut, there were two incidents of fishing trawler-private boat collisions this summer.

The names and other identifying details about two boats involved in a , south of Montauk Point, have been confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard following a Stonington Patch Freedom of Information Act request. But Homeland Security won’t say any more citing open investigations status into the collisions at sea of two fishing trawlers and two pleasure crafts.

One of the fishing vessels was a Stonington-based ship and both sailboats, one locally owned and the other owned by Vineyard Vines clothing company, were dry-docked at Dodson’s Boatyard in Stonington Borough.

According to Specialist Ternia "Nikki" Pipkins, of the Homeland Security FOIA and Data Administration Division in Washington, D.C., on June 21 at approximately 9:30 p.m., “the fishing vessel Joyce D…collided with the sailing vessel Summer Wind. The vessels were
located approximately 25 miles south of Montauk, Long Island, NY.”

Pipkins wrote that, “The investigative reports have been identified; however, they are ongoing and thus cannot be released at this time.”

The Joyce D, a 70-foot fishing trawler, is based in North Carolina and the Summer Wind is a 45-foot Stonington-based sail boat.

The Montauk incident occurred within days of a similar crash
three miles off Watch Hill. In that case, confirmed by the Coast Guard sans any specific details, a fishing trawler again struck a sailboat, "with its outriggers deployed," a source familiar with the incidents said.  Pipkins said “another FOIA specialist” may be “processing” Patch’s public records request.

The sailboat was being transported by a delivery crew when it was impaled by the trawler.  A source said there was “not appropriate watch,” meaning no one was on deck. After the accident, the trawler allegedly towed the “totaled” sailboat into Stonington Harbor where it sank and was later recovered by Dodson’s.

Sources have said there were citations issued to both boats, though that has not been confirmed by the Coast Guard.

The Joyce D was cited by the Coast Guard off Kittery, ME in 2005 for a number of safety violations including missing lifesaving and fire safety equipment like rings, buoys, fire extinguishers and flares. All issues were “resolved” in 2008. There is also another open investigation related to an “enforcement” action taken against the craft in 2006 off Boston that included a “warning” and a “boarding," according to the Coast Guard maritime information database.