SeaStreak ferry accident report delayed by federal shutdown

Source: Asbury Park Press, N.儲存倉J.Oct. 24--WASHINGTON -- The cause of last January's crash of a SeaStreak ferry into Pier 11 in Manhattan, which sent 83 riders to the hospital, will not be known until later in 2014 because of the federal shutdown.National Transportation Safety Board officials were preparing to release the report -- detailing the cause of the accident involving the commuter ferry, bound from Atlantic Highlands -- at its board meeting in February. But that release will be "several months away," said Kerry Nantel, NTSB spokeswoman.NTSB Safety Board officials said that report and its investigations into other transportation accidents all have been knocked off schedule because of the shutdown.NTSB investigators were furloughed Oct. 1, along with other nonessential federal workers. Of the NTSB's 405 employees, 383 were furloughed during the shutdown, with a group of 18 on duty to "keep the lights on" and make critical decisions, Nantel said."We know it was delayed. We don't know a date (for release of the NTSB report)," Nantel said. "It was scheduled to come before the board in February. Now that date will slide. It's several months away."The accident happened on the morning of Jan. 9 as the vessel SeaStreak Wall Street was approachi迷你倉最平g Pier 11 on a commuter run and struck the dock. Passengers interviewed after the crash said many people were standing and waiting to disembark when the collision happened and sent the passengers falling. Of the injured, 37 claims were filed against SeaStreak in federal court in Newark as a result of the accident.The vessel involved in the crash was repaired and returned to service last April, after it was tested by the U.S. Coast Guard.Other investigations also have been delayed due to the shutdown. A hearing was scheduled for Oct. 22 and 23 about the derailment and collision of two Metro North commuter trains on May 17 in Bridgeport, Conn., but was canceled due to the shutdown and rescheduled for Nov. 6 and 7, Nantel said.That investigation won't delay the release of the SeaStreak report, she said."SeaStreak is beyond that stage. That is in the more final stages; they've done the fact-finding and analysis," Nantel said.In addition to determining the cause of an accident, NTSB reports also can contain recommendations, either for the carrier involved or for the industry as a whole.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) Visit the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) at .app.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉