This was the conclusion of an accident investigation.
A six-page report, prepared by Master Mariner Captain James Wallace found that “Both ship masters shared equally” in contributing to the collision.
According to Captain Wallace, who testified for the first time on Tuesday, “Early corrective measures were indeed achievable to avert the collision, however many more lives were at risk on the Sea Hauler, who was operating with a special exemption for increased passenger count and this should have caused the master not to conduct ‘business as usual’.”
He told the Wreck Commission that the collision occurred because both vessels were approaching head-on as defined in the Rules of the Road, on a near reciprocal course.
Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
