The first day of the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal Anse Cochon boat collision heard admissions of safety lapses, including the failure to brief passengers, distribute life jackets and notify the lighthouse of a vessel’s departure.
The July 18 collision between Ocean Angel and Cazorla Jr at Anse Cochon, Anse La Raye, claimed four lives, left several people injured and resulted in one vessel being destroyed and the other sinking. The fatalities included a crew member of Ocean Angel, Tyrone Paul, and three passengers.
Delan Nicholas, who took over as captain of Ocean Angel during the journey, admitted that passengers received no safety briefing and that he did not distribute life jackets, although the vessel carried them.
Nicholas, who was accompanied by his lawyer, told the Commission that he was managing director of Ocean Angel Boat Tours.
Asked whether he was the sole captain on the night in question, he replied: “At the time of the incident, yes; for the entire journey, no. Upon departing, Tyrone was the captain, while I stood away and took over the helm at Anse Mamin.”
He admitted that the boat’s navigation lights were off when the vessel left Soufrière, and were switched on only after he took over the helm.
“During the period that the boat was being driven by from Soufrière to Anse Mamin, the lights were not on,” he told the Commission.
He also acknowledged that he had not informed the Soufrière lighthouse of the vessel’s departure, as required under maritime law.
“Everything was accounted for, vessel was seaworthy, navigation lights was on there, safety equipment was on there, lifejackets were on there,” Nicholas said, though agreeing that he should have informed the lighthouse of his departure.
Passengers describe safety concerns
Roxanne Bonaparte, a passenger aboard Ocean Angel, testified that she had asked for a life jacket because she could not swim. According to her statement to police, the captain reassured her that she was safe with him.
“I noticed that no one on the boat was wearing a lifejacket,” she said in the statement, which she confirmed accurately reflected what she had told police on July 24.
“I told him I don’t know how to swim, so I need a lifejacket. He replied to me, ‘I am safe with him’.”
Bonaparte said she could not recall seeing life jackets during the journey but remembered receiving one while in the water after the collision.
She described the vessel as travelling faster than normal, based on her previous experience aboard it.
“It was going fast to the point where the front of the boat was blocking the front of my vision,” she said.
Bonaparte also described visibility as poor and said passengers received no safety briefing or instructions when they boarded. She said she had not observed any navigation lights during the journey.
Asked by Commission Chairman retired Justice Mario Michel why she had boarded a boat travelling at night without lights, she explained that she had travelled with Nicholas at night before and that the vessel had lights on those occasions.
“I did not think much of it at the time…. I wanted to get to my destination,” she said.
Elias Nicholas, a fisherman from Soufrière and cousin of Delan Nicholas, also testified that he had not noticed any lights on Ocean Angel.
He said Tyrone was operating the vessel when he boarded at the Soufrière jetty sometime after 10 p.m. before Delan Nicholas took over.
Asked about the difference between the two men’s handling of the boat, he said: “Tyrone was taking it more easy on the boat, Delan was going more faster.”
After the collision, Elias Nicholas said he spotted a life jacket nearby, which he grabbed before climbing onto the overturned vessel. He later heard someone shouting for help as other passengers gathered on the boat.
He was eventually taken to a rescue vessel and transported to the Canaries jetty, where an ambulance was called. He said he sustained a head injury and a broken leg and later regained consciousness at Soufrière Hospital.
Further admission of safety lapses
Irenus Pascal, owner of Cazorla Jr, told the Commission that his regular licensed captain was unavailable on July 18, so Tyson Hippolyte operated the vessel.
“I had no choice. Tyson was among the plans as well, so he decided to captain the boat that night,” Pascal said. “I just use him from time to time; he is not my captain.”
He confirmed that no safety briefing had been conducted.
Asked why, he said: “Well, I believe it is just a we thing, like we don’t really take serious…especially when it is not commercial use. Like using it for guests and it’s locals, we just do things.”
Pascal acknowledged that the lighthouse had not been informed of the vessel’s movement either.
“We don’t do it, it’s just a we thing,” he said.
He testified that the boat had been travelling faster than normal on the return journey and that the driver had been asked to slow down. Pascal maintained that Cazorla Jr’s navigation lights were on but said he had not seen an approaching vessel and had received no warning from the lookout.
Inquiry to review maritime safety laws
The Commission was appointed by Acting Governor General Felix Finisterre on September 1, 2026, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and review Saint Lucia’s legislation governing maritime accidents.
Its terms of reference include making recommendations to inform the drafting of a modern maritime act and reviewing standard operating procedures governing maritime activity, safety and investigations.
Investigating officer Luciano Guard also gave evidence on Tuesday about statements taken from witnesses and his interactions with relevant agencies during the investigation.
The hearing adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m. after the testimony of five witnesses and the investigating officer. Proceedings continued on Wednesday.
