Two men who intentionally jumped from the Madeline Island Ferry in July as the vessel was entering the harbor in Bayfield now face federal charges.
The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Duluth initiated the enforcement action last week against the 22 and 25-year-old men.
There were no injuries but the Coast Guard investigation said the deliberate jumping overboard interfered with the safe operation of the ferry and came at a critical point in the vessel’s transit. The men’s action unnecessarily placed the ferry and passengers in a dangerous situation.
The Coast Guard says jumping from a moving vessel forces the captain to follow overboard procedures to allow the crew to safely recover the person in the water.
KDAL