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WASHINGTON, DC---In what may be a prelude to the forthcoming report regarding the Oct. 2 accident on Lake George in which the tour boat Ethan Allen capsized, killing 20 of the 47 passengers aboard, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report Friday involving a September boating accident on the Umpqua River in Oregon when three people were killed.
The NTSB cited the captain's decision to closely approach the Umpqua River bar during hazardous conditions as the cause of the sinking of the Sydney Mae II off the coast of Oregon in September. The board noted that the failure of the captain to ensure that the passengers were wearing lifejackets during hazardous conditions contributed to the loss of life.
"This accident is a tragic reminder of the importance of the board's recommendations that passengers wear lifejackets when rough bar warnings are in effect," noted NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "Life jackets save lives. It's very simple and it's very important."
Rosenker is leading the NTSB investigation of the Ethan Allen tragedy.
On the morning of Sept. 19, the uninspected small passenger vessel, operated by Pacific Pioneer Charters, departed Winchester Bay, Oregon for a fishing trip. The captain and four passengers were on board. During the afternoon, sea conditions worsened, causing the captain to shorten the trip and head back to shore. Because of the rough sea conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard restricted recreational and uninspected passenger vessels from crossing the Umpqua River bar. Despite the restrictions, the captain closely approached the bar and the Sydney Mae II was swamped and sank in the rough seas. None of the passengers was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.
The Sydney Mae II accident is of particular interest to the board because of its similarity to the capsizing of the Taki-Tooo in 2003, Rosenker said. Both accidents resulted in the loss of life because the vessel operators failed to require passengers to wear lifejackets during hazardous conditions.
The full report can be found on the board's website, www.ntsb.gov, under "Publications," "Marine Accident Reports."
The Ethan Allen, a 38-foot glass enclosed boat owned by Shoreline Cruises of Lake Goerge, was carrying 47 passengers when it capsized about 150 yards from shore on Oct. 2 under clear, sunny conditions. There are conflicting reports about what caused the tragedy but the boat's captain, 74-year-old Richard Paris, a retired state trooper, said the vessel was hit by waves from another boat and turned over as he tried to steer out of them. Authorities were also considering that a weight shift by the passengers may have contributed to the boat overturning. Modifications made to the boat may also have been a factor.
State officials said that the Ethan Allen did not have the required number of crew members aboard.
Paris was the only crew member and has been licensed to operate a boat since 1986.
Although state regulations require that the boat be equipped with life jackets for each passenger, there is no law that requires them to wear them although they are required to be "at arm's length". The accident occurred so fast that none of the passengers had time to don life jackets.
All of the passengers on board were senior citizens, some in wheelchairs and with walkers and most were from Michigan.
The Ethan Allen was built in 1966 and had never had prior accidents according to state records. Records indicate the boat received a clean inspection in May. 12-23-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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