April 7, 2002 – The ferry boat Voyager Eagle, owned by the Tortola-based Native Son, Inc. ran aground around 4 p.m. Sunday on Johnson's Reef. The marked reef is located off St. John's North Shore near Trunk Bay and within the V.I. National Park boundaries.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. John Reinert, who is in charge of St. Thomas Coast Guard activities, said there were no injuries among the 33 passengers on board the vessel and no signs of pollution fouling the water.
"The passengers were transferred off onto the Oriol," he said, referring to another boat owned by Native Son.
The incident is under investigation. Reinert said Sunday night that why the vessel went aground remains unknown.
Native Son ferry boats make regularly scheduled trips between St. Thomas and Tortola. A witness said the ferry appeared to be on its way from St. Thomas to Tortola.
Reinert said another Native Son vessel was on the scene trying to get the Voyager Eagle off the reef.
"It looks like they have a long night in front of them," St. John resident Charlie Benbow added.
Benbow said he and people in eight other cars viewed the aftermath from St. John's Trunk Bay overlook.
At one point, he said, it looked like another vessel got a line to the Voyager Eagle, but it was unsuccessful in pulling the boat off Johnson's Reef.
Benbow said waves were smashing over the Voyager Eagle's stern.
V.I. National Park Superintendent John King, who watched the situation from his front porch, suggested that the weather may have been a factor. Sunday afternoon saw frequent spates of fog as rain showers blew across St. John.
"Or was it trying to cut it a little close?" King wondered.
He said a park boat was also on the scene.
Groundings on Johnson Reef are something the park wants to prevent with its Vessel Management Plan. The plan is now in the discussion stage.
"When the plan is approved, boats will be required to go north of Johnson's Reef and Whistling Cay," King said.
He said that while no boats have recently run aground on Johnson's Reef, he understands that before the reef was marked, groundings were frequent occurrences.
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