Florida's Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) said that an accident wherein a local ferry struck a boat ramp was the result of human error.
An investigation by the JTA found no faults or malfunctions in the engines and electronic systems on the ferry Jean Ribault in the aftermath of the accident at around 18:30 local time on May 4, 2025, when the vessel's hull made contact with a nearby boarding ramp as it was about to depart from Mayport Landing.
The vessel was then taken off operations, resulting in a temporary suspension of the St Johns River Ferry service. JTA said it reopened the service on June 13, two weeks ahead of schedule and after the US Coast Guard inspected the ferry and cleared it to resume operational sailings.
The JTA's investigation revealed that the captain had attempted to adjust the throttle on one of the ferry's two engines. The captain claimed that the throttle yielded no response to his input even after moving it back and forth.
He then adjusted the other engine's throttle to see whether it was also unresponsive, and this action resulted in a reduction in power for that engine.
The JTA said the reduction in power in one engine meant that the counterforce to the propulsion generated by the engine on the opposite end of the ferry was also reduced. The vessel then headed in the opposite direction and ended up striking the ramp.
The captain claimed he had previously encountered issues with the ferry's throttle but that the vessel itself was still able to operate on its assigned route, according to the JTA report.