Coast Guard Ends Investigation of Sunken Massachusetts Fishing Vessel

The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded its examination of the January 3, 2009 sinking of the PATRIOT fishing vessel, finally resolving that a rapid loss of stability most likely forced the boat to capsize and sink. Last year, two men were aboard the 54-foot steel-hulled trawler about 15 miles from the port of Glouster, Massachusetts, when their boat sank after an apparent catastrophic failure.

The investigation found that the Patriot capsized very suddenly,” said the commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston, Capt. John Healey. “Although we will probably never know exactly what happened, the evidence most strongly supports a loss of stability as the cause. We also examined the possibilities of fire or collision, but the evidence just doesn’t support those scenarios.” Investigators studied photographs of the sunken vessel, video, computer and metallurgical forensics, and underwater acoustic data to reach their conclusion.

The lawyers at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC have handled all sorts of cases dealing with fishing vessels sinking, similar to the PATRIOT of Glouster, Massachusetts. If you have any questions about this article or another sunken fishing vessel, please call one of the lawyers at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC.