CETACEA

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Ferry ran aground in Lynn

On Aug 27, 2014, the "Cetacea" ran aground in Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts at 8:20 p.m. It got stuck about a quarter of a mile from the pier. Coast Guard crews from Station Point Allerton launched a rescue crew aboard a 47-foot motor life boat to provide a safety zone and stand by to assist if the situation deteriorated. High tide was predicted to be on Aug 28 at 1:00 a.m. The "Cetacea", with 13 passengers and four crew aboard, was expected to re-float on the incoming tide. About two hours later, the ship was able to float away from the sandbar with the arrival of a high tide. It returned to the Lynn ferry terminal 90 minutes after its scheduled arrival.

Coast Guard investigating venture of Cetacea

The Coast Guard is looking into what caused the "Cetacea" to venture into restricted waters, where it became entangled on a floating cable, forcing 163 passengers to spend a night at sea. Investigators from the Coast Guard’s Inspections and Investigations branch were interviewing all parties and examining ship logs, navigational charts, and other records on July 30. The ship probably did not have a contingency plan in the event it became tangled in a line. Rstricted areas, such as the one the "Cetacea" ventured into, are marked on navigational charts. Passengers on the ship will receive a ticket refund, ranging from $36 for children to $47 for adults, a $100 voucher toward a cruise on a Boston Harbor Cruises vessel and a $500 check upon filling out some paperwork. The company will also reimburse passengers for approved expenses, such as missed flights. Hauling the boat to shore and repairing the propeller cost Boston Harbor Cruises $3,000. The cable that snagged the Cetacea was part of Excelerate Energy’s Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port, where liquefied natural gas tankers offload gas, which is then piped underwater to shore. The mooring cable floats on the surface and is marked by buoys. Reports with photo: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/30/coast-guard-investigating-whale-watch-boat-that-stranded-passengers-overnight/txWbfUtqtkbeySB6CwPmTO/story.html http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/07/29/newmarket_family_stranded_on_boston_whalewatching_boat.html

Cetacea escorted to Boston

On July 29 the US Coast Guard ensured the safe return of the "Cetacea" which had become disabled about 13 miles east of Nahant on July 28 at about 4:30 p.m. during a whale watching cruise. Boston Harbor Cruises deployed divers aboard the "Gateway Endeavor" to attempt to free the propeller. Additionally, the passenger vessel "Nathaniel Bowditch" was directed to the scene to attempt to transfer the passengers. The Coast Guard Cutter "Tybee" and a 47-foot motor life boat crew from the Coast Guard Station Gloucester were diverted to the scene to assess and monitor the situation. The Coast Guard Cutter "Escanaba" later also diverted to the vessel's position and provided medical personnel to assess the passengers and ensure their safety. Initial attempts by the divers to clear the line from the propeller were unsuccessful. Original reports indicated a lobster pot line was caught in the propeller, but further analysis revealed it was a cable from Northeast Gateway's offshore facility which required additional dive resources and heavy duty equipment for removal. Considering the dangers of an at-sea night operation, a passenger transfer was deemed unsafe until the following morning. Meanwhile, Boston Harbor Cruises provided additional water, food and blankets to the passengers. At about 5:20 a.m., divers aboard the vessels "Bunker Hill" and "Scarlett Isabella" freed the line from the propeller, and the "Tybee" escorted the "Cetacea" to Boston. All passengers safely disembarked the vessel near 8 a.m., at Long Warf. The cause of the incident was under investigation.