On August 17, 2016, about midnight local time, the fishing vessel Lydia & Maya was returning from fishing grounds in the Gulf of Maine to its home port of Boston, Massachusetts, when the vessel capsized.All four crewmembers abandoned ship into a liferaft and were later recovered by a US Coast Guard helicopter. The vessel, which was partially submerged when abandoned, subsequently sank in 540 feet of water with about 3,500 gallons of fuel on board. There was no report of injuries, but an oil sheen was observed after the accident. The vessel was valued at an estimated $600,000.
The probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the fishing vessel Lydia & Maya was the uncontrolled drop of a suspended load onto the deck resulting in a sudden shift of weight that severely compromised the vessel’s stability. Contributing to the sinking was the combination of the crewmembers’ sleep debt, physical workload, and potential drug use that likely affected their ability to recognize the hazards created by the suspended load on the main boom and the blocked scuppers on the aft deck.
Precautions after Completing Fishing Operations
Fishing vessel operators should ensure that suspended loads are not left unattended but are lowered to the deck and properly secured before transiting. Operators should also ensure that all scuppers (freeing ports) in the bulwarks are kept clear for rapid draining of water on deck. A deck filled with water creates an undesirable free surface effect, while the weight of the additional water increases the height of the vessel’s center of gravity and decreases its freeboard, consequently reducing the vessel’s overall stability.
