NTSB Blames Cruise Ship’s Navigators for Dock Crash

A federal report blamed cruise ship’s navigators for the boat crashing into a Ketchikan dock last year in Alaska, causing more than $1 million dollars in damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board report was released after a U.S. Coast Guard report concluded that the crash resulted from a combination of factors, the Ketchikan Daily News reported.

Celebrity Cruises’ ship named Infinity smashed into Ketchikan’s Berth 3 in June 2016.

The day of the crash was windy with choppy waters. The Coast Guard report said that bad weather played a factor. It also said restricted vessel movements, fast speeds and a lack of knowledge that tug boats were available for assistance contributed.

The federal report highlighted similar problems, but took it a step further in blaming the crash on navigators, specifically the ship’s master.

A master is the highest responsible officer on the bridge.

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the Celebrity Infinity striking the dock was the master’s failure to plan, monitor, and execute a safe docking evolution,” according to the report.

All three individuals in control of the ship that day – the vessel’s master and staff captain, in addition to a marine pilot – had at least a decade of experience in their respective roles. Both reports declined to name the navigators.