CAPTAIN DOZED OFF DURING ALLISION

摘要

A midnight party cruise that ended with a pier allison in Baltimore's Inner Harbor was caused by the captain dozing off at the helm, Coast Guard investigators found. The Aug. 28 incident occurred when the 131'x36' Spirit of Baltimore was returning to shore with more than 400 passengers on board. Citing a Coast Guard report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the Baltimore Sun reported that the boat's mate had left the bridge to assist with a drunken passenger. The unidentified captain fell asleep, according to the report. The boat hit a floating pier at a marina, tearing up about 60' of decking and damaging two recreational boats. Several passengers were treated for minor injuries. Damage to the Spirit of Baltimore was minimal, and it was back at work the next day, but without the captain. Chicago-based Entertainment Cruises suspended the captain and then fired him within 24 hours, general manager Dan Leaman told the Sun.