The boats involved in the collision have had their names made public by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The story that follows includes them. After rescue workers raised a 32-foot boat that sank following an early morning collision with the Fisher Island Ferry that left one man deἀd and one other hospἰtalized in severe condition, PortMiami was once again accessible to cruise ship traffic on Sunday (25 June).
According to the Miami Herald, Cutler Bay resident Cristian Gaston Fernandez pἀssed away. He was 27 at the time. Angel Dominguez, 29, of Hialeah, was hospitalized and in critical condition:
One dead, one injured when a boat hits the Fisher Island Ferry, Miami Fire Rescue says https://t.co/FylFR4e16V
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) June 25, 2023
Tens of thousands had their travel plans delayed by the incἰdent and cleanup for almost a day, including more than 15,000 passengers on three cruise ships at sea who were supposed to arrive at the port around 8 a.m. Sunday (25 June) but were instead left waiting off the coast while workers tried to clear the blocked channel.
The U.S. Coast Guard closed PortMiami following the 3:40 a.m. crash and announced on social media that the port was now open:
#BREAKING The @USCG has established a temporary security zone limiting inbound and outbound vessel traffic for @PortMiami while @MyFWC conducts an investigation and salvage efforts following an early morning collision between two vessels in the channel. @MiamiDadeFire pic.twitter.com/Czm2AZY07w
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 25, 2023
An Early Morning Accἰdent
The collision occurred at 3:40 a.m. on Dodge Island, with cruise ship passenger terminals that attract many people across the MacArthur Causeway between Miami Beach and Miami. Dodge Island is located east of the Pilot House Station.
A majority-intact pleasure boat with a center console control and a T-Top-style canopy over the wheel is visible in photos obtained during the salvage operation. U.S. Coast Guard officials informed Miami Fire Rescue Fireboat 15 that a 30-foot boat had struck the ferry in the channel.
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The person, later identified as Dominguez, was plucked from the ocean by ferry personnel and given to the Coast Guard before being taken by Miami Fire Rescue to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Lt. Sanchez stated that despite Dominguez’s critical condition, he could still state that his comrade was still missing.
Leading a multi-agency search, the Miami Fire Rescue dive crew discovered Fernandez after he had already pἀssed away.
Travel Plans Delayed
The Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Cruise Line Escape, and MSC Seascape ships were among the cruise ships stranded due to the restricted port, they were scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The ships’ closure caused guests to fret about missing flights for a day while taking advantage of an extra day at sea with reopened pools, bars, and restaurants.
Carnival advised guests waiting for information on their Sunday departure from PortMiami for a Caribbean cruise that the terminal would be open at 8 p.m. and that they needed to arrive no later than 11 p.m. It was the first update of the day not to advise potential passengers to remain in place.
With an estimated 16,000 passengers on three shifts idling off PortMiami, the delays threatened a wave of missed flights at Miami International Airport. Spokesperson Greg Chin said the county-owned airport notified airlines of the situation at PortMiami, and that all rebooking fees are being waived for cruise passengers impacted by the case.
33,000 people had their travel plans impacted by PortMiami’s closure on Sunday (25 June), A representative for the county-owned port. Each ship anticipated releasing 5,000 and 6,000 passengers from a Caribbean cruise after docking on Sunday morning and then welcoming a new group of passengers for departures in the afternoon.
Residents of Fisher Island received notice on Sunday morning that the ferry would not run until the passage was reopened. If you are interested in reading more articles just like this one, you can follow us on Twitter and read more stories just like this one.
