A boater is missing on the St. Lawrence River after a pleasure craft struck the moored container ship MSC Diego

Speedboat Sinks After Striking MSC Box Ship

By MarEx 2016-07-27 20:40:13
 

 A boater is presumed missing on the St. Lawrence River after a pleasure craft struck the moored container ship MSC Diego at 2200 hours Tuesday night.

An observer at the scene told police that he may have seen an individual on the boat. No one has been reported missing and a search with helicopters, surface craft and divers has not found any sign of the boat's occupants.

Police are looking into a variety of causes for the incident, including the possibility of suicide.

The 20-foot speedboat appeared to have struck the Diego at high speed, and the small craft’s bow was badly damaged; the boat sank after the impact.

"The whole front end [of the speedboat] was found floating around and it sank after that," said Fire Department spokesperson John Primiani, speaking to the Canadian Press. Fragments of the boat and a life vest were also found.

The Coast Guard and local authorities are conducting an investigation, and the search is expected to resume Thursday. It will include a larger stretch of the St. Lawrence, as the current may have carried objects from the scene for miles downriver.

As of Wednesday evening, the 4,000 TEU MSC Diego remained moored at its berth on the river.