Report says captain ‘daydreaming’ when ferry ran aground

BATTERY ISLAND, NC (StarNewsOnline.com) — The captain of a Bald Head Island ferry likely was daydreaming at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 17 when the boat ran aground in the Cape Fear River near Battery Island, injuring 13 passengers and one crew member, according to a U.S. Coast Guard Report of Investigation.

"The master never realized or was aware how close he was from the sand bars near Battery Island since he never reduced speed or tried any actions to avoid the grounding," according to the report. "There is the likelihood that the master was lost in thought (daydreaming) behind the helm, since he cannot explain what occurred."

Capt. Eugene Rodney Melton – whose name was redacted in all but one instance – made no efforts to slow the ferry Adventure's speed from 19 knots before it came to a dead stop on the sand bar, according to the report. If Melton had stayed about 200 feet to the starboard, the report added, the grounding would not have happened.

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