A fishing boat with four crewmembers probably sank in Nantucket Sound last year because a build-up of ice added so much weight that it caused the ship to capsize, according to a report released yesterday by the US Coast Guard.
The Lady of Grace went down 12 miles south of Hyannis during a winter gale on Jan. 26, 2007, when 6-to-9-foot seas blanketed the ship with frozen spray. The demise of the 75-foot dragger from New Bedford is documented in a 46-page report that recommends changes to Coast Guard regulations governing ice and stability that could have a significant impact on the fishing industry.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the fishermen who died," Captain Raymond Perry, commander of Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, said in a written statement. "While these experienced New Bedford fishermen lost their lives, we hope that their legacy and the lessons learned from the investigation will help keep similar tragedies from happening."
The ship was found two days after the storm under 56 feet of water. Divers recovered the bodies of Captain Antonio Barroqueiro, 50, and one crewmember, Mario T. Farinhas, 62. The bodies of the other two fishermen - Rogerio Ventura, 54, and John Da Silva, 50 - were never found. They are presumed dead.
The most significant proposal would require boats between 50 and 79 feet in length to undergo stability tests. Currently only vessels 79 feet or longer face stability requirements.
"That would be a significant change, because many of the boats in New Bedford fall into that category," said Coast Guard Captain John Healey.
Fishermen could be forced to hire naval architects and make what some might consider costly renovations, Healey said. The suggested change will be studied in Washington and is subject to congressional approval, which can be a lengthy process.
The ice that caked on the rigging and superstructure of the Lady of Grace changed the ship's center of gravity and left it susceptible to the rough seas, according to the report. Other ships in the area that night reported ice up to 10 inches thick. The safety standard currently used by the Coast Guard accounts for ice that is about a half-inch thick.
In the last 15 years, 194 commercial fishing vessels have capsized or sunk in the Northeast. The Lady of Grace was only the second ship that was lost because of ice, according to the Coast Guard.
