Early estimates puts damage to USS Midway Museum at $100K after boat strikes hull

Teri Figueroa, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Jul 21, 2025

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SAN DIEGO — Initial cost estimates of damage to the USS Midway Museum come in around $100,000 after a 65-foot boat crashed into it, a museum spokesperson said Monday.

The Friday collision did not dent the massive aircraft carrier parked along the downtown San Diego waterfront, but it scuffed and scratched the paint on the port side of the hull, spokesperson David Koontz said. It’s a special paint that provides a protective coating against the elements, including salt water.

He said contractors will also have to inspect the electrical system that helps prevent corrosion of metal structures. “Once we get contractors on board, we’ll determine more of the actual costs,” he said. But, Koontz added, there was no breech of the hull and no structural damage. “We are a sturdy ship,” he said.

Koontz said there was no disruption to the museum operations.

The collision happened about 11:45 a.m. Friday, according to Harbor Police and Port of San Diego officials. Several people saw it, and it was caught on video. Koontz said the museum’s safety team was quickly made aware of the incident and contacted authorities.

The boat did not stay at the crash scene, authorities said, and was later located near the Coronado Ferry Landing. There were seven people on board, and the captain was identified.

The 40-year-old captain was arrested on suspicion of boating under the influence, hit and run, and operating a vessel with a blood-alcohol limit over 0.08%. The boat was impounded

The aircraft carrier is about 1,000 feet long, and its flight deck sits about 55 feet above the water, but it has been struck at least once before in previous years. In August 2018, a 38-foot sailboat lost its mast and had to be towed away after crashing into it.

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