NTSB report attributes ferry Cathlamet crash in 2022 to captain 'microsleep'
A National Transportation Safety Board investigation attributed the Washington State Ferries vessel Cathlamet's crash at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in July 2022 to fatigue on the part of the ferry's captain and also found fault with the vessel's quartermaster, who was not actively monitoring as the vessel approached the dock as was required by policy.
One passenger suffered a minor injury in the collision, which caused significant damage to the vessel. Cathlamet had to be pulled out of service for several months for repairs, and it has since returned to work on Puget Sound. The captain at the helm of the vessel at the time of the incident, identified in NTSB records as David Brian Cole, resigned afterward. Records indicate that he began working for WSF in 1985 as an ordinary seaman.
"Our investigation found that rudder commands were insufficient to line up the vessel for docking, and the master did not properly slow the vessel," a NTSB report released this week states. "The master also did not radio the terminal or ensure an arrival announcement was made over the public address system. Additionally, there were no rudder commands for 28 seconds before the contact. Finally, the master did not recall what had occurred. These events are all consistent with incapacitation from a microsleep."
Drug and alcohol tests and reviews of cell phone records found that the captain was not under the influence or distracted at the time of the incident, according to the report.
Cole was interviewed by investigators on the day of the incident onboard the vessel and told them, "I got engagement, and the next thing I know I hit, I hit the dolphin. That's all I know. I mean, I, I don't know what to say."
He also told them about the health of someone close to him, a situation that was on his mind, according to a transcript of the interview.
Cole again spoke with investigators the next month with an attorney, according to a transcript of that brief meeting released by the NTSB. When asked questions, Cole repeatedly declined to answer, saying, "On the advice of my attorney, I assert my Fifth Amendment right not to answer."
A message sent to the attorney who represented Cole in that hearing seeking comment for this story was not returned Thursday.
"In the days leading up to the casualty, the master reported receiving between 5-6 hours of sleep each night before arriving to the ferry around 0330 to 0345 each morning and assuming the watch about 0720," the NTSB's newly released report said. "The master stated that in the roughly 4 hours of off-watch time, he did his typical walkaround, which indicated he likely did not sleep. When asked to describe the master’s demeanor, the quartermaster reported that the master frequently appeared to be tired, including on the day of the casualty."
According to the report, the quartermaster told investigators that he had been reviewing a memo about 10 feet away from the helm and was not watching as the vessel neared the ferry terminal. The quartermaster reported that he felt something was off, looked up and found the vessel was off course. The vessel then struck a dolphin structure, a group of pilings that serves as a buffer at the ferry dock, and the vessel continued on toward the shore. The quartermaster reported that the captain looked at him and asked twice, “What happened?”
A WSF spokesperson said that there was an estimated $6.7 million in damage done in the incident.
"Safety is Washington State Ferries' top priority, and WSF has a lengthy and proven safety record," the agency said in a statement. "WSF thanks the NTSB for their support and findings which essentially verify the results of our internal investigation which was released in March. That WSF report found that operator error and failure to follow existing procedures led to the July, 28 2022 incident where the Cathlamet struck offshore pilings near the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. A separate United States Coast Guard investigation is ongoing."
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Ferry Cathlamet crash due to captain's fatigue, report finds
