Sometimes, what we think in the moment is our best course of action, does not render the results we desire. Such was the misfortune of a commuter ferry captain who was transporting dozens of passengers through a narrow strait with limited visibility.
In Marine News' Fishing for Trouble article, contributing editor Randy O'Neill explains how this commuter ferry captain operated his vessel in the way he thought was best for the situation. Unfortunately, his ferry ran aground and some of his passengers sustained injuries.
Since the captain had MOPS Marine License Insurance, which immediately appointed a maritime attorney to his case, he was able to avoid negligence charges by accepting the Coast Guard’s settlement offer.
Something to keep in mind, as O’Neill states, is that this is “…not an unusual outcome in today’s highly-charged enforcement atmosphere which stresses full accountability (and consequences) for professional mariners’ decisions and actions…particularly when their ‘fragile cargo’ is local commuters.”