October 22, 2007
"It Was the First Time They Went Night Fishing"
Families and friends are mourning the deaths of Robert Chacon and John Isello, two friends who died when their motorboat capsized in the Ambrose Channel Saturday night. Chacon, Isello and two other friends were on a 24-foot fishing boat when their vessel hit a tugboat's towline.
All four fell into the water. Jackson and Chacon were in an air pocket, but Chacon suffered a heart attack. Jackson, who held onto Chacon's body so it would not drift away, saw a NYPD diver. Detective Francis Vitale saw Chacon's body and told the Post, "As I was pulling [Chacon], all of a sudden, a hand came down and grabbed me on my shoulder, which I certainly wasn't expecting underwater in the dark."
Isello was swept away by the current and drowned. The fourth passenger, Robert Angnali, managed to swim back to capsized boat and sat on its hull before being picked up by another boat, the Captain Dave, whose crew contacted the police.
The Coast Guard said that the friends' boat had tried to pass the tug boat, which was towing a barge; the NY Times reports that apparently their boat's radio was off, so they did not hear the tugboat's repeated warnings. The Coast Guard also says that the boaters were not wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard also said, "The quick response and actions of the fishing boat Captain Dave is commendable and may have saved the life of one of the boaters."
Chacon's brother told the Daily News, "This was a tragic accident. We're in shock. It was the first time they went night fishing, and they were looking forward to having a good time."
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It didn't occur to them to not drive between the tugboat and the barge???????????
Darwin wins again.
A shame, but avoidable.
No license/permit is required to operate watercraft (unless for-hire or certain size/use conditions).
After many years on the water, I can tell you this much:
1. Ship's radio, if not otherwise in use, should be left on Channel 16, emergency channel. Not just for your own safety, but you may be able to help others.
2. The International Rules of the Road define not just the way ships should interact, but also outline the lights displayed by ships, tugs, dredgers while at anchor or underway. The lights displayed on the tug mast would have let them know of the following barge.
Not advocating draconian regulation of watercraft, but anyone taking to the water (especially @ night in the VERY busy lower harbor) needs to exercise at least a minimum level of knowledge and caution.
RIP
Dadoc