KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The third day of the Scandies Rose hearing shed some light on stability issues that may have a more pronounced impact on the crab pot fishing fleet as a whole. 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.
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.
A major point they emphasized during their testimony is that stability reports for “icing”- when ice forms on a vessel and its contents- may not be up to parr. They said that their calculations imagine ice forming on the surface area of a rack of crab pots- not the interior of the pots themselves. According to the Coast Guard panel, there has been one recent study on ice accumulation inside of crab pots. The study looked at only one pot using fresh water in arctic conditions. 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.
The hearing went to recess, and after lunch will return to hear testimony from Jon Lawler, a survivor of the tragedy.
