Marion Ferry Disaster: Boat may have been smuggling drugs
The Maritime Safety Bureau today released their preliminary report into the collision in the Marion Sound that took 183 lives. The accident occurred when a high-speed ferry collided with a private yacht. Today's report suggests that the ya ht may have been travelling without running lights at the time of the crash. A witness told the MSB inquiry that he observed a yacht matching the description heading into the sound without lights half an hour before the collision.
The yacht was owned by a salesman from Coral. It is believed he was the skipper on board, and was counted amongst the fatalities, along with the rest of the yacht's crew. The skipper and bridge crew of the ferry also died.
The MSB report revealed a quantity of white powder stored in plastic bags in the hold. While the report did not state what the powder was, it is understood the matter has been referred to the federal police. Drugs are often trafficked down the Marion Sound and into the lucrative markets of Delmars and cities on Barunia Island from the Northern Isles. This operation is usually done at night and without lights to avoid detection. Could this be what happened? There was no moon on that night, and without her lights on the yacht would have been invisible to the ferry crew until it was too late.
