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COMMERCIAL FISHING BOAT PAPA GEORGE SINKS, CAUSING DEATH OF TWO CREWMAN
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 05, 2007
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions
The United States Coast Guard has reported that on September 3, 2007 the Papa George, a sardine fishing vessel, sank 12 miles off the coast of the State of Washington. The Seattle Times reports that the United States Coast Guard has released the names of two of the five man crew including the captain, David Starbuck, and crewman Ethel Zelaya , who died in the sinking. Three crewmen were able to survive by abandoning ship into the vessel's skiff. The Coast Guard investigation into the sinking of the Papa George will be continuing.
This tragic accident demonstrates that commercial fishing remains one of the deadliest and most dangerous jobs in the world. The Coast Guard is reported to be investigating the possibility that the malfunctioning of a pump in the vessel's hold may have contributed to the vessel's loss. The Fishing Vessel Safety Act requires vessels such as the Papa George to have certain basic safety features, such as emergency electronic locating devices (EPIRBS), bilge pumps with check valves, and to participate regularly in safety drills. Early reports indicated the vessel did not issue a may day, and EPIRB's did not activate automatically notifying the Coast Guard of the sinking when the vessel sank.
Crewmen injured in fishing accidents may be entitled to compensation under Federal Maritime Laws including the Death on the High Seas Act and the Jones Act. Actions for maritime wrongful death may be brought in State or Federal Courts where the deceased crewmen's family members may make claims for negligence or unseaworthiness against the owners of the fishing vessel or crewman's employer.
Contact the experienced lawyers at Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobsen to talk about you case, or visit our website for more basic information about maritime law and about our practice.
