2 Ferries Collide in Fog, Injuring 21

Two ferries collided in fog Thursday on Long Island Sound off Orient Point, injuring 21 people, authorities said.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Ramos said the ferry North Star was moving toward Orient Point and the Cape Henlopen was on its way to New London, Conn., when the collision occurred in calm seas.

The 158-foot-long North Star was struck about 15 feet above the water line. The collision left a 4-by-30-foot hole in the port side. It continued on to port, officials said.

Superficial Damage

The Cape Henlopen, about twice as large as the North Star, continued on to New London and had only superficial damage to its hull.

Four of the injured, all of whom were on the North Star, were hospitalized.

It was not known how many people were aboard the ferries. The Coast Guard said the North Star was capable of carrying 200 passengers.

The Coast Guard was trying to determine the cause of the collision. “Both boats have radar, which should have alerted them if they were too close,” Coast Guard Lt. Kenneth Burgess said.