LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge sentenced a captain of a scuba dive boat to four years in custody and three years supervised release for criminal negligence leading to the deaths of 34 people in a tragic fire aboard the vessel. The incident, which occurred on September 2, 2019, off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, marked one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent U.S. history. The blaze sparked changes in maritime regulations, congressional reform efforts, and ongoing legal battles.
Captain Jerry Boylan, who was convicted of neglecting his duties as a ship officer last year, faced up to 10 years behind bars but was ultimately sentenced to four years in custody and three years supervised release. Despite the tragic loss of life, Boylan’s defense argued that he did not intend for any deaths to occur, emphasizing his profound grief and remorse over the incident.
The Conception, anchored off Santa Cruz Island, became engulfed in flames on the final day of a three-day excursion, claiming the lives of 33 passengers and a crew member trapped below deck. Among the victims were individuals from varied backgrounds, including a dream job-holding deckhand, an environmental scientist, and a globe-trotting couple. Boylan was the first to abandon ship, with four crew members also surviving the ordeal.
The prosecution of Boylan was marked by legal complexities and delays, with a grand jury initially indicting him on multiple counts of seaman’s manslaughter before reducing the charges to a single count. The exact cause of the fire aboard the Conception remained undetermined, with prosecutors attributing the tragedy to Boylan’s alleged failure to maintain proper safety measures on the vessel.
As the criminal case concludes, attention shifts to ongoing legal battles, including lawsuits filed by victims’ families against Truth Aquatics Inc., the company that owned the Conception. Additionally, Truth Aquatics invoked a maritime law provision to limit liability in the aftermath of the disaster, sparking further legal disputes and demands for accountability in ensuring maritime safety regulations are upheld to prevent future tragedies.