Maritime Accidents

Maritime Accident Report — September 12, 2026

Robert Jones

13 Sep 2026 — 2 min read

Florida Man Dies After Falling Overboard from Pontoon Boat on Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee

A 72-year-old Florida man was killed on Friday, September 11, after falling overboard from a moving pontoon boat on Watts Bar Reservoir in East Tennessee. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency identified the victim as Stephen Mason of Homosassa, Florida, who was boating with his wife and friends near Sand Island when he went into the water and suffered fatal injuries. Responders from state game wardens, the Rhea and Meigs county sheriff's offices, EMS crews and volunteer agencies answered a 911 call shortly after 2 p.m. and pronounced Mason dead at the scene; officials noted he was not wearing a life jacket.

Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Six Rescued After Vessel Floods 24 Nautical Miles Offshore of Port Aransas, Texas

Six mariners were rescued on Friday, September 11, after their boat began rapidly taking on water roughly 24 nautical miles offshore of Port Aransas, Texas. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a mayday call at about 10:40 a.m. and launched a response boat from Station Port Aransas along with two aircraft from Air Station Corpus Christi. Crews reached the vessel within the hour, stopped the source of the flooding, dewatered the boat and escorted it safely to shore. No injuries were reported.

Source: KENS 5

Cruise Ship AIDAperla Breaks Moorings in 75-Knot Winds and Strikes Quay at Le Havre, France

The 125,572-gross-ton cruise ship AIDAperla tore free of its berth at Quai Pierre Callet in the Port of Le Havre, France, at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, after wind gusts reported near 75 knots severed the vessel's forward mooring lines. The ship drifted astern and made contact with the quay wall, ripping away both passenger gangways and reportedly opening a small gash in the hull. No injuries were reported among the roughly 3,286 guests or crew, though about 500 passengers ashore on excursions were temporarily unable to reboard, and the ship missed its next port call at Zeebrugge while tugs returned it to the quay for class society inspections.

Source: The Maritime Executive

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