In a significant development, the captain of a scuba dive boat that tragically caught fire off California's coast in 2019, resulting in the loss of 34 lives, has been sentenced to four years in prison. The captain, Jerry Boylan, was found guilty of criminal negligence and convicted on a single count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer, a pre-Civil War statute aimed at holding maritime captains and crew accountable for disasters.
Boylan's sentencing comes after a federal judge handed down the decision, which also includes three years of supervised release. The devastating blaze on the scuba dive boat, named the Conception, occurred on September 2, 2019, marking it as the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history. The incident led to significant changes in maritime regulations, congressional reforms, and multiple ongoing lawsuits.
During the trial, it was revealed that Boylan was the first to abandon ship and jump overboard, along with four crew members who also survived. The fire, which claimed the lives of 33 passengers and a crew member, broke out while the Conception was anchored off Santa Cruz Island, just 25 miles south of Santa Barbara.
While the exact cause of the blaze remains undetermined, prosecutors argued that Boylan failed to implement necessary safety measures, such as posting a roving night watch and providing adequate firefighting training to the crew. Boylan's defense, however, attempted to shift blame onto the owners of Truth Aquatics Inc., the company operating the Conception, alleging a lack of proper safety training and a lax seafaring culture.
Following the conclusion of the criminal case, attention has now shifted to the ongoing lawsuits, including one filed by Truth Aquatics under a maritime law provision to limit liability. Additionally, victims' families have filed lawsuits against the Coast Guard, accusing them of lax enforcement of safety regulations.
The sentencing of Captain Jerry Boylan marks the end of a lengthy and complex legal process that has spanned nearly five years, bringing some closure to the families of the victims while underscoring the importance of maritime safety and accountability.
