A judge has suspended the credential of the Portland Spirit captain who forced rowers to evade the vessel's path during a Willamette River race this fall, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday.

Capt. Lowell Gillespie Jr. had already been suspended by his employer for the incident. He was previously disciplined for running into other boats during a huge traffic jam on the Willamette that forced the shutdown of the Red Bull Flugtag competition in 2015, as well.

In the recent case, a Coast Guard administrative law judge ordered Gillespie's merchant mariner credential be suspended for three months, according to the Coast Guard. Gillespie admitted his negligence, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

Even before the judge's decision, the company suspended Gillespie for 90 days.

Gillespie maintained the vessel's course and speed during the encounter, Coast Guard marine investigator Travis Nolen previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive, and the rowers changed their course to avoid a collision.

Gillespie could have waited for the rowers to pass, crossed behind them or, if they weren't so close, continued in front of them, Nolen said.

Company President Dan Yates previously said Gillespie "made a very poor decision" in the Oct. 29 encounter, which happened as Gillespie was returning with an empty ship from the Salmon Springs dock at downtown Portland's Tom McCall Waterfront Park to its eastside dock at Caruthers Landing. Yates declined to comment Wednesday.

The rowers — part of the Portland Fall Classic race — were on the river past the event's permitted time, according to Nolen.

The event organizer accepted a letter of warning from the Coast Guard for failing to comply with their marine event permit by going longer than their allotted timeframe, said Petty Officer Levi Read, a Coast Guard spokesman.

Gillespie's suspension started Monday, Read said, noting Gillespie had voluntarily deposited his merchant mariner credential to the Coast Guard on Nov. 17.

The suspension comes after a Coast Guard investigation. The agency filed a complaint to the administrative law judge, who ruled based on information in the complaint.

"The complaint stated the respondent was negligent while serving as master of the Portland Spirit in that he failed to take positive action to avoid a collision with two recreational rowers," the Coast Guard said.

"As per navigation rules, the master had the responsibility to not only avoid a collision but also to alter the course or speed of the Portland Spirit in order to not impede the passage or safe passage of the rowers."

— Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Lynne Terry of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report