Arizona men intentionally went overboard on June sightseeing cruise

SEATTLE – The captain of the port, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, issued two notices of violation, July 6, with proposed penalties of $2,500 each to two men who intentionally jumped off the Arogsy Cruise’s vessel Spirit of Seattle.

Coast Guard investigating officers determined that Nathan Keel of Tempe, Arizona, and Chanda Jatinder of Mesa, Arizona, were aboard the underway boat on June 5, when they jumped over the rail and into the water.

Crewmembers of the Spirit of Seattle, which had more than 300 passengers aboard, immediately responded and recovered the individuals. Neither of the men suffered injuries. The Coast Guard said that the men were celebrating a birthday and wanted to do something memorable.

Coast Guard officials accused the men of interfering with the safe operations of a vessel so as to endanger the life, limb or property of a person.

“Intentionally jumping off a commercial vessel is extremely dangerous and diverts the crewmembers’ attention away from the safe operation of the vessel,” said Capt. Joe Raymond, captain of the port, Sector Puget Sound. “I have directed my staff to investigate each of these incidents and issue violations as appropriate.”

– United States Coast Guard