Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry Involved In Collision: Coast Guard

NEWPORT, RI—The Oliver Hazard Perry was in a collision Sunday night with other vessels in Newport Harbor. The Coast Guard says 12 crew members were on board, and the accident happened as the Tall Ship was leaving the seafood festival. The vessel lost power. So far, there have been no reports of injuries. According to its website, the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is the biggest civilian sailing school vessel in the U.S.

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The Coast Guard issued a press release Sunday night, as follows:

Coast Guard Station Castle Hill is providing a safety zone in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, Sunday night after a tall ship lost power and hit multiple other boats before grounding near Perrotti Park.

The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, was leaving Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival with 12 crewmembers aboard when it lost power and began to drift.

A 911 dispatcher alerted Coast Guard watchstanders to the incident at about 6:15 p.m.

Two response boat crews from Station Castle Hill immediately deployed to the scene, where personnel from the Narragansett Bay Task Force are also helping with the response.

There are no reported injuries or pollution. The incident is under investigation.

Courtesy Photo Caption: The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, is grounded Sunday, October 11, 2017 in Newport Harbor after the tall ship lost power and hit multiple other boats near Perrotti Park. U.S. Coast Guard photo.