No serious injuries but 2nd boat collision concerns authorities
A weekend boat collision in the waters between Belize City and San Pedro has left more than seventy-five people shaken up and recovering from varying degrees of injuries. According to Ramon Reyes Jr., President of the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association, around five-thirty on Saturday evening, “Tsunami” driven by Captain Rene Rosado and carrying thirty-three passengers, collided with “Big Al”, captained by Emelito Allen with forty-five passengers. The accident occurred in a narrow channel between Caye Caulker and Caye Chapel. Tsunami was heading to Belize City from Caye Caulker, while Big Al was heading home to the caye from Belize City.
Tonight sources tell News Five that both captains saw each other prior to the crash, but “miscalculated” the distance separating them. It is believed that realizing the “misjudgement”, Rosado swerved to the left towards the reef, but it was too late, as seconds later Big Al rammed the stern of Tsunami. It is estimated both vessels were travelling at a speed of around thirty miles per hour. After the collision, Big Al beached itself on the shoal and contact was immediately made with the Water Taxi Association’s head office in Caye Caulker. Three boats responded to the emergency and passengers were transported to receive medical treatment either in Belize City, San Pedro, or Caye Caulker.
We understand that most physical injuries were confined to bumps and bruises, but one woman is believed to be suffering from a dislocated shoulder. All medical expenses were assumed by the Association. A meeting is scheduled tonight at the Water Taxi headquarters on Caye Caulker to discuss whether to make the channel one way or to disallow taxi traffic there altogether.
The Belize Port Authority is conducting its preliminary investigations into the incident with findings expected to be released later this week. But with this latest incident coming just two weeks after a fatal boating accident in Placencia lagoon, tonight the Belize Port Authority is asking the public to take a proactive stance on boating safety.
Maj. Gilbert Swazo, Operations Mgr., Bz. Port Authority
?The incident yesterday, while the vessels also had life jackets available, our reports indicate thus far, none of the passengers had on any life jacket. So it would appear that neither the masters, nor the boating public are taking heed to wearing life jackets. Port Authority will continue to sensitise the boating public, we will also continue to conduct aggressive patrols with a view to ensure navigation and boating safety and we ask the cooperation of the masters, and especially the crew, the passengers, to exercise a little bit of initiative and ask for the life jacket so that they are issued it and they wear the life jacket. It?s rather difficult, even if you are a strong swimmer, if you are thrown out of a vessel to put a life jacket on when you are in the water. So we ask that everyone become very much aware, ask for the lifejacket, and wear it at all times.?
According to Port Authority Operations Manager, Major Gilbert Swazo, the vessels involved in Saturday’s crash have been grounded until the investigation is completed and tonight we understand that the Water Taxi Association has also taken the two boat captains out of the rotation until the Port Authority submits its findings. In related news, we are told that a formal investigation into the Placencia Lagoon crash will begin tomorrow with interviews with the passengers on board and visits to the site.
