Update: Coast Guard Clears ‘Vista Star’ For Operation After Striking Breakwater
Five-foot waves were reported during the incident, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
6:15 p.m. update: After the Vista Star struck a breakwater wall in the Wisconsin Entry to the Duluth-Superior harbor late Saturday evening, the Coast Guard inspected the hull of the boat Sunday evening and gave the all clear for operations to resume, according to Vista Fleet Owner Justin Steinbach. He added the Vista Star cruises will start back up as normal on Monday.
“The Vista Fleet has been here for 65 years operating out of this harbor, and my wife and I have owned it since 2011. Our goal has always been to make great experiences. This was an unfortunate experience. It does happen. You know, in the marine world. We feel terrible that happened. But again, the way that the crew responded in a way to to make sure that the boat was safe, the crew was safe, and most importantly, the passengers were saved,” Steinbach said.
The video above is from the 9 p.m. broadcast Sunday.
12:55 p.m. update: FOX 21 has learned the captain of the Vista Star that hit the breakwater in the Wisconsin Entry Saturday night had turned the ship around because of five-foot waves.
Courtesy: Pez Davila
“The route we take for longer events is to go through the Duluth/Superior Harbor, out the Superior entry point, cruise along Park Point on the lake side and return in the Duluth entry point under the Aerial Lift Bridge to close the cruise. It’s really impressive at night,” explained Vista Fleet owner Justin Steinbach.
Steinbach told FOX 21 when the ship departed the Superior entry point with a wedding party, the captain determined there was “too much wave interference to be a comfortable cruise back.”
General area of impact, according to Vista Fleet owner Justin Steinbach
That’s when the captain decided to return through the Superior entry with the 84 people on board, which is the protocol, according to Steinbach.
But when turning around, the captain “must’ve gotten disoriented on the opening for entry. He ran too close to the rock break wall and that’s what we hit,” Steinbach explained.
He said a Coast Guard diver will be assessing the Vista Star later today, and that the boat will depart tomorrow as normal if the all-clear is given.
The boat was going slow at the time of impact around 10:50 p.m., according to Steinbach, but he said the combination of the impact and strong waves made for a “really uncomfortable” experience for passengers on board.
One person was taken off the Vista Star on scene by the Coast Guard’s boat before being taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. All other injuries were minor. Everyone else on board exited once the Vista Star came back to its normal docking station behind the DECC.
Steinbach said his fleet of boats have never been involved in a collision since he bought the business in 2011.
St. Louis County Rescue Squad escorts Vista Fleet Saturday night.
DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Vista Fleet had its Vista Star strike the breakwater in the Wisconsin Entry of the port late Saturday evening, causing minor injuries to some of the 84 people on board, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
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“Initial reports were that the vessel was against the breakwater but was not taking on any water,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The incident was reported around 10:50 p.m. Saturday.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the site and “evacuated the injured party who was transported to Loon’s Foot landing and brought to St. Luke’s for treatment by Mayo Ambulance,” according to the Sheriff’s Office. The injuries were reported as not life-threatening.
“Upon arrival at the site, it was reported the Vista Star was listing to one side and was in 5-foot waves,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Vista Star was able to maneuver the vessel off of the breakwater and make its way to its home base at the Minnesota Slip with the escort of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, U.S. Coast Guard and Duluth Fire.
Several people were assessed for minor injuries.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
