10 boats run aground in 10 months

At least 10 boats have run aground in the territory since February — four of them since October, according to the Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority.

In light of the statistic, officials are calling on boaters to heighten their vigilance at sea.

“This is a significant number, and it is concerning, especially given that the marine tourism season is just beginning,” said Jerome Padmore, chief marine accident investigator in the Premier’s Office. “In fact, it highlights the urgent need to reinforce strict situational and navigational awareness when operating in local water.”

The incidents, he added, primarily involved bareboat charter catamarans, but each incident occurred under different circumstances.

“Despite that, all these groundings share a common theme: diminished attention to the navigational environment, inadequate passage planning, and an over-reliance on electronic charts and systems,” Mr. Padmore said.

Preventable

He added that groundings are often preventable and typically arise from human error rather than mechanical failures or other unexpected dangers.

Common causes, he said, include lapses in concentration, misinterpretation of navigational tools, incorrect assessments of shallow areas, and excessive reliance on electronic navigation systems.

“In regions like the Virgin Islands, operators must remain vigilant due to the complex geography, which includes numerous islands, cays, reefs, shoals and submerged rock formations,” he said. “These elements can vary with changes in tides and weather conditions, making attention to detail essential for safe navigation.”

Environmental damage

Groundings also pose serious environmental risks, damaging coral reefs, seagrass beds and marine habitats, according to the investigator.

Even a single incident can result in years of ecosystem harm and costly restoration, he said, adding that prevention is a shared responsibility of operators and charter companies.

The MSIRA is urging all vessel operators to review the operators’ criteria for bareboat charters, undertake proper briefings, review the Cruising Guide of the Virgin Islands and local charts before departure, follow designated channels, continuously monitor water depth, pay attention to navigational buoys, and report any navigational issues.

“All operators, charter companies and marine industry professionals are reminded that they are legally obligated to report all marine accidents, including groundings,” the agency stated.

Such incidents must be reported to the MSIRA within 24 hours as required by the Virgin Islands Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations, 2020.