The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Coast Guard marine investigators from Marine Safety Detachment St. Thomas are investigating Thursday the cause of a collision between the passenger ferry Capitol Venture and the commercial sailing vessel New Horizons, which occurred approximately half a nautical mile east from the Red Hook channel entrance in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The incident was reported to the Coast Guard by the crew of each vessel at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Following the collision, the Capitol Venture, carrying 176 passengers and five crew, continued to make way to the Red Hook ferry terminal, while the New Horizons, with 24 people and four crewmembers on board, proceeded to Sapphire Marina, where they were met by Coast Guard marine investigators.
At this time no major injuries have been reported to the Coast Guard from the passengers traveling on board the ferry, while a minor toe injury was reported from one of the people aboard the sailing vessel, who was treated by emergency medical service personnel in St. Thomas.
Coast Guard marine investigators are in the process of conducting damage assessments of each vessel. No signs of pollution were detected from either vessel following the collision.
The crew of a Coast Guard 29-foot response boat small II also responded to the incident and supported the investigation efforts upon confirming that all passengers and crew were accounted for.
