Maritime Accident Report: April 28, 2026 — Citadel Cadet Killed in Mount Pleasant Dock Collision, Norwegian Breakaway Crew Member Overboard Off Cape Cod, Towboat-Tanker Collision Sinks Urea Barge on Lower Mississippi
This daily report covers notable maritime incidents and offshore casualties from publicly available sources. These summaries are provided for informational awareness and do not constitute legal advice.
Citadel Cadet Killed in Mount Pleasant Dock Collision
A boat carrying seven people that departed Shem Creek struck a dock in an inlet off King Street in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina on the night of April 25, killing 18-year-old Citadel cadet Evan Greenleigh of Bethesda, Maryland. Greenleigh, a mechanical engineering major and member of the school's tennis team, was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m. from blunt force injuries. The other six occupants were transported to a local hospital and have been released as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources investigates.
Source: The Post and Courier
Norwegian Breakaway Crew Member Goes Overboard Off Cape Cod
A crew member aboard the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway fell overboard approximately 12 miles east of Wellfleet, Massachusetts late on April 26 while the cruise ship was traveling from Bermuda to Boston. The fall was captured on the vessel's security camera, prompting the ship to deploy liferings and a rescue boat and notify the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched a helicopter shortly after 1 a.m. on April 27. The Coast Guard suspended the search just after noon on April 27 pending new information.
Source: CruiseMapper
Towboat-Tanker Collision Sinks Urea Barge on Lower Mississippi River
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 9:20 p.m. on April 27 of a collision between the 200-foot towboat mv. Ginny Stone, owned by American River Transportation Company, and the 610-foot Panamanian-flagged tanker mv. Isla De Bioko near Mile 110 of the Lower Mississippi River. Six barges broke free in the collision and one barge loaded with urea sank; responding vessels recovered four of the breakaway barges, with the remaining two lodged against anchor lines of cargo ships moored nearby.
Source: The Waterways Journal
Boater Ejected and Killed on Melton Hill Lake in East Tennessee
One person died after being ejected from a boat on Melton Hill Lake along the Clinch River near Oak Ridge, Tennessee shortly after noon on April 27, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The victim was pulled from the water and transported to a hospital but succumbed to their injuries. TWRA had not released the victim's identity as of the initial reporting and an investigation into the cause of the ejection is ongoing.
Source: WVLT
Cleveland Man Dies in Ocoee River Rafting Incident
A man from Cleveland, Tennessee was killed in a rafting incident on the Ocoee River on April 27, marking the sixth boating-related fatality in Tennessee so far in 2026. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the victim fell from a commercial outfitter's raft or a private craft. The Ocoee River, a popular whitewater rafting destination, has seen multiple serious incidents in recent years.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
Body Recovered from South Carolina's Lake Murray After Rescue Attempt
A man who jumped into Lake Murray in South Carolina to save a person in distress was found dead on April 26 after a day-long search by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. His body was recovered just before 9 p.m., over 24 hours after the search began. This is the third body recovered from Lake Murray in April, raising concerns among local officials about water safety on the reservoir.
Source: The Post and Courier
If you or a loved one has been affected by a maritime accident, consulting a qualified maritime attorney can help you understand your legal rights under the Jones Act, general maritime law, or the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
