Tyson Hippolyte, captain of Cazorla Jr, acknowledged that his captain’s licence had expired 11 years earlier and that he drank four Piton beers before the vessel’s deadly collision with Ocean Angel, as public hearings in the maritime commission of inquiry began in Parliament on October 13.
The commission is examining the circumstances surrounding the July 18, 2026 collision off Anse Cochon. Cazorla Jr was returning from Gros Islet to Soufriere with nine people aboard when the vessels collided.
Hippolyte confirmed that he had captained Cazorla Jr on both the outward and return journeys. He maintained that the alcohol he consumed before the trip home had not affected him.
His evidence brought sustained questioning about his licensing history, drinking before departure and actions after the impact, along with challenges to his account of how often he had operated passenger boats.
Hippolyte stood by the statement he gave police on July 21, confirming that the group had left Soufriere at about 3 p.m. on the day of the collision.
When first questioned about his captain’s licence, he said he would need to examine the document to know when it expired. After being shown it, he accepted that the expiry date was July 18, 2015—exactly 11 years before the tragedy.
He initially sought to explain the lapse by saying he mainly operated his fishing boat. Under further questioning, he said he had captained Cazorla Jr about three or four times during those years.
Commission members also put to him that evidence existed of him operating other vessels during that period. Hippolyte said he would not be surprised if they had such proof, but later said he was unsure which other boats they meant.
After repeated questioning about operating boats with an expired captain’s licence, he acknowledged, “Yes.”
Asked whether maritime officials or marine police had approached him about renewing the licence, Hippolyte said he could not remember. A questioner challenged that response, putting to him that he had previously been approached about renewal.
The hearing was also told that a concessionary annual renewal fee of $5 applied to him. One questioner pressed Hippolyte on why he had allowed the licence to remain expired for 11 years when the accumulated annual fees would have amounted to $55.
His alcohol consumption before taking Cazorla Jr back to Soufriere drew further scrutiny.
Hippolyte acknowledged drinking four Piton beers but denied consuming additional alcoholic beverages. A statement attributed to the vessel’s owner said he had bought at least four beers each for several members of the group and that they had also purchased drinks with their own money.
Hippolyte disputed that suggestion as it related to him, maintaining, “Well, I didn’t buy any other drinks.” Asked whether four beers affected him, he replied, “No, man.”
Describing the moments before the collision with Ocean Angel, Hippolyte said he had seen only lights along the shoreline. He told the commission that a lookout was aboard Cazorla Jr, but that person had not reported seeing anything.
He said he immediately placed the engine in neutral after the impact, then entered the water seconds later and rescued two people.
Hippolyte acknowledged making no telephone call for assistance, although his phone was in the vessel’s console. He explained that others were calling for help while he carried out the rescue.
His testimony also raised wider questions about the reporting of boat movements. Asked about contacting the Vigie lighthouse when departing or returning, Hippolyte said many fishermen and boat captains did not follow that practice.
Acknowledging that it was routinely overlooked, he told the commission, “We don’t follow that one.”
At the close of his evidence, the chairman reminded Hippolyte that the commission’s role was to establish what happened, rather than prosecute him, and urged him to answer questions directly. He was advised that he could be recalled for further questioning.
The inquiry continues Wednesday at 10 a.m.
