Maritime Injury Law BlogConception Vessel Captain Found Guilty of Negligence in Fire that Killed 34
On the afternoon of November 6th, 2023, a federal court jury in Los Angeles found Jerry Nehl Boylan, the captain of the M/V CONCEPTION, guilty of gross negligence in the tragic maritime incident that claimed the lives of 34 individuals.
The M/V CONCEPTION, a 75-foot vessel, caught fire on Monday, September 2, 2019 while anchored. The fire swiftly engulfed the boat, resulting in its sinking and the tragic loss of 34 lives. Five crew members, including Boylan, managed to escape and survive.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence and contended that Boylan, displayed negligence by failing to initiate a night watch or roving patrol, insufficient fire drills, poor crew training, and neglected to provide firefighting instructions or utilize available firefighting equipment. This evidence highlighted a series of failures on the part of Captain Boylan that significantly contributed to this tragedy. Boylan, who was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its passengers, and its crew, has been found guilty of his failures.
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the “catastrophic implosion” of the privately-owned underwater vessel TITAN. The vessel was destroyed while en route to the wreckage site of the TITANTIC, resulting in the tragic loss of all five individuals on board.