A tugboat captain has been charged with seaman’s manslaughter following a fatal collision in Biscayne Bay that claimed the lives of three children. Authorities allege the captain was operating a tug pushing a debris-loaded barge with obstructed visibility and without assigning a proper lookout, violating basic maritime safety practices.

According to investigators, the tugboat’s forward view was blocked by onboard structures, and a stalled sailboat from a nearby children’s sailing camp drifted into its path. Without a lookout, the captain did not see the vessel in time to avoid the collision. A forensic review also found cellphone activity during transit, including around the time of the incident.

Three children were killed in the collision, while a counselor and two others survived. If convicted, the captain faces up to 10 years in federal prison in what officials describe as a preventable tragedy.