Scandies Rose hearings: Day Three summary

The third day of the Scandies Rose hearing shed some light on stability issues in the crab pot fishing fleet as a whole, and investigators heard a first-hand account of the sinking from a survivor.

First, Paul Zankich, Bud Bronson and Jonathan Parrott are three expert naval architects who provided testimony this Wednesday morning. They conduct stability reports on many vessels like the Scandies Rose.

Their testimony was followed by engineer Cecily Lowenstein (low-in-STINE), who reviews stability reports for the Coast Guard. Lowenstein criticized stability reports by Bruce Culver, who conducted the most recent stability survey for the Scandies Rose, as inconsistent and inaccurate.

A major point the engineers emphasized during their testimony is that stability reports for “icing”- when ice forms on a vessel and its contents- may not be up to par. The naval architects said there has never been an icing study on a stacked mass of pots on the deck of a fishing vessel. They said this could mean that the tremendous weight of ice forming on the deck of the Scandies Rose and other boats may not be fully accounted for in stability reports.

Zankich went on to say that “I, as a naval architect do not believe in the regulations,” referring to the regulations that determine what is considered safe levels of ice. He also alluded to his belief that the Scandies Rose rolled over due to ice buildup.

Lowenstein underscored the need for more regulations and their enforcement, noting that the marine industry is “the wild wild west.”

Much of the afternoon testimony was given by Jon Lawler, a crew member on the Scandies Rose, and one of two survivors. Lawler expressed his concerns about preparations on the Scandies to sail, namely how rushed it was and the disregard for the severe weather forecast.

While on watch, Lawler said he felt that the hull had already taken on water and watched the ice build on the boat and pots. When asked if he were the Scandies captain, what he would have done, Lawler responded: “It would have been too hazardous to send the crew out in that. Wouldn’t be worth it.”

The Scandies Rose sank on New Year’s Eve of 2019, around 10 p.m. shortly after leaving port in Kodiak. Five of the seven crew were lost. The vessel sank just south of Sutwick Island.