Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 6, 1990 TAG: 9007060758
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short
Capt. Richard L. Counselman Jr., who previously had denied apologizing, changed his story in testimony Thursday before a Coast Guard-National Transportation Safety Board investigating panel.
Neptune Jade pilot Capt. John A. Jones Jr. testified earlier this week that Counselman told him by radio, "She's not going to make it. Jack, I'm sorry."
"It turns out that what Jack has said is pretty much in line," Counselman told the panel Thursday.
Counselman said his attorney had advised him that one or more other mariners, who were navigating other vessels nearby at the time of Sunday's collision, would testify to overhearing the apology on their radios.
"I really, truly thought, and came home and reported to everybody, that . . . I did not tell Jack," Counselman said. "However, I must have."
Counselman said he did not initially remember his conversations with Jones as both pilots tried to avoid the collision in 40-knot winds and driving rain.
However, Counselman insisted his actions did not cause the collision, which did millions of dollars in damage to the ships and spilled up to 30,000 gallons of fuel oil from the Columbus America's punctured fuel tank into the Chesapeake Bay.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard on Thursday found oil-stained grass along the environmentally sensitive Lynnhaven River.
by CNB