Personal Injury Law

Distracted Boating: Tugboat lookout on cellphone during fatal collision

By LaBovick Law

In a report just released by the National Transportation Safety Board, phone records show that the first mate on lookout was on a cellphone during the tugboat and barge collision in Philadelphia in July 2010. He made or received over 20 calls from noon until the accident occurred at 2:37pm per the 4,400 page NTSB report.

The accident in the Delaware River last summer, claimed the lives of two tourists and injured 26 other passengers.

It is important to point out that the safety board report is only a factual finding in an ongoing investigation and does not offer a conclusion as to what caused the accident. The investigation is ongoing.  However, it is not a stretch to conclude that negligence on the part of this first mate by talking on his cellphone instead of doing his job, which was to be on lookout, will be looked at very closely.

Distracted Boating is as Dangerous as Distracted Driving in a motor vehicle.  If you are operating a vessel or a vehicle, pay attention to the seas and what is around you. Most accidents that involve distracted driving while on a cellphone can be avoided, if the parties involved, used common sense. 

Pay attention to the seas while you are operating a vessel, it could save a life.

Click on the following link to read more on Tugboat lookout on phone during fatal collision - CNN.com

NTSB: Tug pilot in crash was on cell - Associated Press - Washington Post,com

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on March 08, 2011 (boomark / email).