Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Commercial Fisherman Drowned after Fishing Vessel Capsized, Alaska, August 31, 1992

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Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Commercial Fisherman Drowned after Fishing Vessel Capsized, Alaska, August 31, 1992

A commercial fisherman was trapped and drowned after the commercial fishing vessel he was on capsized while under tow. The 16 year old male fisherman was a share holding crewman aboard a 32 foot bowpicker. He had 5 weeks of experience on the vessel, and had fished commercially with his family for several years. The vessel had become disabled and was anchored for 11 hours with only two men, the skipper and the victim, on board. The vessel was carrying about 1000 pounds of salmon and slush ice. A tender arrived to tow the vessel to port and within 2 minutes of beginning to tow, the vessel capsized, trapping both men in the pilot house. The skipper escaped and swam to safety. Numerous attempts to reach the other man were not successful. It was recommended that training be given in vessel stability, including factors that could result in the deterioration of vessel stability and the measures that can be used to maintain or restore stability, especially under tow conditions; that a constant watch be kept while under tow; that all crew members wear a personal flotation device during a tow; that vessel preventive maintenance is performed and documented; and that all nonessential personnel are taken from a vessel being towed.