Fred Bowers Fred Bowers of Alna calls the owner of the Tow Boat/U.S. after it was hauled to shore by the harbor master. (Photo Paula Gibbs)

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation of an unreported boat collision on the Back River near the Wiscasset-Westport Island town line.

Lieutenant Ed Green said Tuesday he believes the accident happened Saturday night, September 1, but the Coast Guard didn't learn about it until about a week later. He said an anonymous caller told them a red Tow Boat/U.S., piloted by Wiscasset resident Sean Rafter, hit a boat on a mooring in the river, then left the scene. The investigation is to determine if this is what happened, and if so, why Rafter did not report it.

Harbor master David Sutter said he towed the boat to shore on Thursday, September 13, when he noticed the boat riding low in the water. Sutter said he had heard about the collision and surmised that the boat was leaking as a result of the collision. Sutter said there was evidence of damage to the bow of the boat, the water was up over the battery, and the bilge pump wasn't working.

However, both Fred Bowers, who called the owner of the boat, Bill Stevenson of Orland, and Lieutenant Green say they believe the water in the boat was from rain, not because it was leaking. Bowers, who lives in Alna, is an alternate captain of the boat. Sutter said he asked Bowers if he knew about the accident, and Bowers said he hadn't heard about it.

Sutter said he learned of the accident from Troy Lewis, a Maine Marine Patrol officer who lives in Boothbay. The accident was first investigated by Mike Forges, another Marine Patrol officer, who lives on Barter's Island.

After Forest looked into the situation, the investigation was taken over by the Coast Guard, Sutter said. Both Westport Island and Wiscasset responded to the call on the scanner, Sutter said.

Lieutenant Green said he does not know the name of the owner of the boat which was hit. Asked if the Coast Guard has talked to Rafter yet, Green said, their investigator, Chief Michael Wireman, has talked to him. Green said the Coast Guard is pursing several investigations at this time so he could not predict how long it would take.

Green said the initial report called into 911 was that "a recreational vessel had been hit by a commercial vessel about 80 feet from shore on the eastern side of a small island." He said the location was about three-quarters of the way down the Back River.

"We are taking a very close look at the situation," Green said. "We understand he's a licensed captain."