Boat wreck blamed on speed, lookout failure

Speed, darkness and an over-reliance on electronics led to a speedboat crash in the Sir Francis Drake Channel last July, investigators have found.

The 31-foot powerboat Mojaito, which was visiting from Puerto Rico, slammed into a green steel buoy south of Brandywine Bay at about 8:44 p.m. on July 26 after leaving Virgin Gorda for Road Town following the annual Christmas in July event at Pond Bay.

Now, the Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority has released a report into the collision.

The agency found the vessel was travelling at about 28 knots in dark conditions when it struck the marker south of the Brandywine Bay entrance.

No one sustained injuries requiring hospitalisation, and all aboard were safely assisted after the incident, the report states.

Husky Salvage & Towing transported the vessel safely to the Nanny Cay boatyard, where it was hoisted and inspected, according to the report.

Safety concerns

Chief Marine Accident Investigator Jerome Padmore said the probe identified multiple safety concerns.

“These factors included an over-reliance on electronic navigation, a decrease in situational awareness during nighttime navigation, difficulties in maintaining an effective lookout despite having several people on board, challenges in maintaining a safe speed in a buoyed and heavily trafficked area after dark, and the necessity for timely communication regarding navigational changes to ensure safe navigation,” Mr. Padmore said in a Feb. 13 press release announcing the release of the report.

The report also found that the buoy had been relocated on Feb. 7, 2025, but mariners were not formally informed of the new position.

Recommendations

In light of its findings, the authority issued safety recommendations to the BVI Ports Authority aimed at improving navigational safety in VI waters.

Recommendations include improving coordination with the VI Shipping and Maritime Authority to ensure that timely notices to mariners are issued after buoy maintenance, relocation or other navigational changes.

The report also calls for stronger communication protocols relating to navigation aids to improve mariner awareness.

Proper lookout

Meanwhile, Mr. Padmore urged boaters not to depend solely on onboard screens.

“I would like to remind all vessel operators that electronic navigation aids are intended to complement, not replace, proper visual navigation and the need for an effective lookout,” he said. “Operators must navigate at a safe speed that is appropriate for the prevailing conditions, especially at night and in areas with increased activity.”

The investigator stressed that maintaining a safe speed requires adjusting to circumstances such as narrow channels, mooring fields, high-traffic areas or places with reduced visibility and other hazards.

The full report is available at gov.vg.