Bachelor Party Cruise Ship Sinks Near San Francisco Bay

Nearly two dozen people onboard a San Francisco Bay vessel may need to consult with a cruise lawyer after being involved in a Friday night maritime accident. The passengers were celebrating a bachelor party on a vessel that promoters call San Francisco Bay’s only “floating wine tasting room” when the vessel hit a shoal near Alcatraz Island and started to sink. Luckily, no one was injured in the cruise ship accident, but they are still advised to consult with a cruise injury lawyer to determine if they qualify for compensation for the incident.

According to U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. j.g. Josh Dykman, the 45-foot vessel named Neptune hit the shoal shortly before 9 p.m. Friday night, which left a 1-foot gash on the side of the boat. Water started coming into the vessel and the boat’s captain tried to steer it back to San Francisco’s Pier 39, but the vessel began experiencing issues with its rudder issues and started to sink roughly 300 feet from the pier.

Three Coast Guard boats came to the rescue and the boat’s 22 passengers and crewmembers were helped off the vessel and brought to the pier. Along with the Coast Guard, San Francisco fire and San Francisco police boats also responded to the cruise accident scene. Miraculously, no one was hurt in the cruise ship accident, but the experience was frightening for those onboard nonetheless.

“We were only in the boat for maybe about 20 minutes or so,” recounted Matthew Rice, the party’s guest of honor. “We were coming around Alcatraz checking it out and all of a sudden it was like boom, just like a big jolt and the next thing we knew the Coast Guard boats came in and got us off.”

The Neptune, a 1958 motor vessel operated by San Francisco Bay Boat Cruises LLC, is certified to carry 42 passengers. Melissa McDowell, who operates the family-run cruise boat business, along with her husband and daughter, said the cruise accident “was just an unfortunate event.” McDowell added that all three family members were on board at the time of the cruise ship accident and assisted the passengers off the vessel. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Although no one was hurt, those onboard may still be eligible to receive compensation for the traumatic cruise ship accident. Every day, passengers and crewmembers sustain a cruise injury that is usually the result of the cruise line operator’s negligence. Anyone who has been involved in an accident involving a cruise ship, motor boat, tinny, or any other watercraft is alble to seek legal help to protect their rights. If you or a loved one have suffered bodily harm or mental anguish following a maritime accident, contact one of our cruise injury lawyers for assistance immediately.

Our firm has been helping victims of maritime accidents since 1971. Each maritime lawyer at our firm works diligently to protect your rights and so that you and your loved ones can obtain the money damages and medical care you rightfully deserve. For more information on the details of your incident and to file a claim, contact Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. today.