An excursion boat crashed into a Boothbay Harbor pier May 2 after losing power. Around 11 a.m., the Pink Lady II left Bristol Marine after three weeks in the boatyard. The vessel had enough power to shift into gear, but not enough to maneuver the ship, according to owner John Fish of Cap’n Fish’s of Boothbay Harbor. Without power, the captain couldn’t shift out of gear or steer. The boat crashed into a Boothbay Harbor pier. 

“The boat was docked in the boatyard for three weeks without being able to plug in,” said Fish. “The shifter controls don’t work on low voltage and he couldn’t shift without power.”

There were no reported injuries or damage to the Pink Lady II. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Moynihan reported only minimal damage to the dock. “Maybe a couple thousand dollars worth with only a couple pieces of timber breaking off,” he said. The Coast Guard said the incident is still under investigation.

Despite the limited damage, the pier’s building shook upon impact. Mark Gimbel was in his nearby office when the Pink Lady II crashed into the pier. “It hit hard as I was sitting in my office when I heard a loud boom. It shook the whole building,” he said. When Gimbel and his son, Eric, viewed the accident, they saw the boat lodged 10 feet into the pier.