Scuba Dive Boat Captain Found Guilty of Seaman's Manslaughter for 2019 Fire; Set to Face Sentencing in February

Captain Jerry Boylan failed to carry out basic safety protocols including appointing a roving night watch or provide fire safety training for his crew, leading to the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history; the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.

• Jerry Boylan, the captain of the Conception, a scuba dive boat, was found guilty of misconduct or neglect of ship officer for a tragic fire in 2019 that resulted in 34 people's deaths, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in recent U.S. history.
• During the fire, Boylan and four other crew members abandoned the vessel while the 33 passengers and one crew member were trapped within the burning boat, unable to escape.
• Prosecutors have accused Boylan of negligence, as he failed to appoint a roving night watch or provide fire safety training for his crew, which resulted in the fire spreading undetected across the 75-foot boat.
• Although the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, it is speculated that it may have originated in a trash can. Boylan's lawyers argued that he remained on the boat long enough to broadcast a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard and he only jumped overboard when he was certain he wouldn't survive otherwise.
• Boylan is the only person to face criminal charges in connection with the fire and could face a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on February 8, 2024.

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