Dec. 31, 2005 – An InterIsland Boat Service ferry, the NSI, was transporting hotel workers from St. John to St. Thomas Friday night when it crashed into the rocks at Steven's Cay, a small island located near St. John.
"I heard there was 21 people taken off," Caneel Bay Resort manager Rik Blyth said Saturday.
He said eight of Caneel's workers were injured seriously enough to be off work for the next several days. Blyth said the workers suffered cuts and bruises.
He said that Caneel and other businesses with staff working late charter the ferry daily to take the workers to St. Thomas.
V.I. National Park Chief Ranger Steve Clark said that when the park got the call to assist in the rescue, he understood one person was in the water.
Clark said another ferry responded to take people off the NSI.
"Three were transported immediately to St. Thomas hospital," he said, referring to Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.
Clark said he understood the number of injured was 17. He said the rest of those injured were sent to Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John for treatment.
No one at the U.S. Coast Guard on St. Thomas could provide any information. The Coast Guard's public affairs officer in San Juan did not return a phone call requesting comment.
This is the second boating accident off St. John waters in recent days. Thursday night a 15-foot dinghy with two people on board hit the rocks at Hawksnest Bay. Clark said there were no serious injuries.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
