Coast Guard Cell Phone Use Questioned
Criminal charges filed in San Diego Christmas boat parade collision
Investigators comb recreational boat after the Dec. 20th collision in San Diego Bay
Cell phone use on Coast Guard boats has been restricted, following two winter holiday season collisions last year that occurred when crewmembers were engaged in conversations or texting unrelated to the operation of their vessels.
Wireless communications devices can be very useful tools in time of an emergency. However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had determined that a crewmember was using a cell phone aboard a Coast Guard patrol boat at the time of a deadly collision on December 20, 2009, during the annual Christmas parade in San Diego Bay.
The collision caused the death of 8-year-old Anthony DeWeese. Four others on the DeWeese family’s 26-foot recreational vessel were injured. The DeWeese family and two other families have filed suit against the Coast Guard, seeking unspecified damages for negligence and wrongful death.
Four petty officers were recommended for courts-martial recently on criminal charges including involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty involving the incident.
The other collision took place December 5, 2009, at the harbor in Charleston, SC. It involved a Coast Guard vessel that was returning to base after escorting a cargo vessel and a recreational boat with 22 passengers on a tour to view Christmas lights around the harbor. Six people aboard the recreational vessel were injured.
In a Recent letter to the Coast Guard, the NTSB recommended that the service issue policies to address the use of wireless electronic devices on its vessels. The letter also requested that the Coast Guard issue a safety advisory to the maritime industry about the risks of using the devices while operating vessels.
“Both accidents are still under investigation, and no determination of causal or contributing factors has yet been reached,” the letter said. “The NTSB has learned, however, that some crew members on each Coast Guard accident vessel had been using cellular telephones to engage in text-messaging activities or conversations that were unrelated to vessel operations or to the mission at hand.”
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Chris O’Neil said the service was reviewing the NTSB recommendations. He said the Coast Guard had issued guidance on July 16 prohibiting the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by operators of Coast Guard boats and restricting their use by other crewmembers, who are considered “look outs” to aid in safe navigation.
“Cell phones and texting devices may be useful communications tools if boats lose a marine radio signal or as alternate means of communication to a marine radio,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris O’Neil. “The Coast Guard takes the NTSB recommendations seriously and will provide a response to the letter upon a thorough review.”
