A new catamaran ferry operated by Native Son Inc. and carrying 84 persons ran aground Sunday night on Cow and Calf rocks, a popular dive site south of St. Thomas's East End.
The damaged vessel was taking on water, but there was no immediate threat to the passengers and no injuries reported, according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman in Puerto Rico. However, he said, "They can't figure out where it is leaking."
The Coast Guard was notified of the accident at 7:36 p.m. in a call from V.I. Radio. The catamaran was ferrying a Texas Christian youth group from St. Thomas to Tortola when it struck the rocks.
USCG Petty Officer Jason Chapman said the barge TugLife was at the scene but could not get close enough to take off passengers. However, Chapman said, a Coast Guard auxiliary vessel operated by Klaus Willems was on its way to the site and was expected to be able to remove the passengers from the crippled catamaran.
Chapman said the ferry was under the command of Capt. Tilbert Lettsome at the time of the accident.
