The Time Bandit Crashes Into the Wizard — How Badly Was the Ship Damaged? Inside the Million-Dollar Disaster

Fans of Deadliest Catch are calling it one of the most shocking maritime accidents in the show’s history: the moment the FV Time Bandit slammed directly into the FV Wizard during dangerous sea conditions. But while the dramatic collision made for gripping television, the true severity of the damage only came to light once both vessels returned to port—revealing a costly, chaotic aftermath that is still being talked about across the fleet.

⚠️ A Collision No One Saw Coming

The crash happened during rough weather in the Bering Sea, where high winds and icy swells made maneuvering nearly impossible. The Time Bandit lost control while attempting to maintain its heading, drifting straight toward the Wizard despite desperate engine reversals.

Video from the wheelhouse showed crew members shouting warnings in the seconds before impact. What followed was a violent, grinding blow to the Wizard’s starboard side—one strong enough to shake the entire deck and send several crew members stumbling.

🚢 What the Wizard Looked Like Back in Port

When the Wizard finally limped back to Dutch Harbor, the extent of the destruction became painfully clear:

• The ship’s starboard hull plating was crushed and deeply bent inward

• A 15-foot tear had opened along the side, allowing water to seep into multiple compartments

• The crab tanks, hydraulic lines, and pipework suffered significant structural distortion

• The main deck suffered buckling, requiring emergency reinforcement

• Several critical systems—including electrics and stabilizers—were rendered nonfunctional

Witnesses on the dock said the Wizard “looked like it had been hit by a freight train.”

Captain Keith Colburn later admitted that the ship was “one good storm away from sinking” had they stayed at sea any longer.

💔 Casualties: A Crew Changed Forever

While the crash did not result in mass casualties, it was far from a clean escape.

• One crew member suffered fatal injuries related to complications after the impact

• Two others were hospitalized with severe bruising and fractures

• Several more sustained minor injuries but were able to continue work after treatment

The loss of even one life cast a long shadow over the fleet and forced renewed scrutiny of safety protocols in extreme Alaskan conditions.

💸 A Multi-Million-Dollar Repair Bill

The Wizard is one of the Bering Sea’s toughest vessels—but repairing a boat of its size is no small undertaking. Marine experts who evaluated the damage estimated:

• $2.5–$3 million in structural repairs

• 6–8 months out of service while the hull was rebuilt

• Replacement of large sections of the steel plating

• Complete reworking of hydraulic systems

• Upgrading several internal compartments damaged by flooding

Insurance covered a significant portion, but not all. Some costs—especially crew downtime and catch losses—fell directly on the Colburn family.

Captain Keith described the process bluntly:

“It wasn’t a repair job. It was like rebuilding half the boat.”

The Time Bandit also suffered dents, railing damage, and winch misalignment, but repairs were minor compared to the Wizard’s near-catastrophic condition.

⚓ A Crash That Changed the Fleet

The collision resulted in fleet-wide operational changes, including:

• Stricter harbor departure rules during storm conditions

• Mandatory vessel-spacing protocols

• Upgraded navigation and thruster systems on several ships

• New communication checks between captains during high-risk maneuvers

It also created lingering tension between the two crews, though both sides publicly emphasized mutual respect and shared the goal of safer operations going forward.

🔧 The Wizard’s Return

After months in the shipyard and millions spent, the Wizard eventually returned to sea, stronger but forever marked by the accident. Reinforced plating, new stabilizers, and updated hydraulics made her safer than before—but the emotional scars for the crew remain.

As Captain Keith said:

“Steel can be fixed. What happened to the men on board—that stays with you.”

🌊 A Reminder of the Bering Sea’s Power

The collision between the Time Bandit and the Wizard stands as a stark reminder that, even for veteran captains, the Bering Sea remains one of the most dangerous workplaces on Earth. In seconds, a simple course correction can turn into a million-dollar disaster.

And long after the camera crews leave, it’s the fishermen, their families, and their vessels who pay the price.