About 1430 on September 23, 2014 the fishing vessel Christopher’s Joy capsized while trawling in the Gulf of Mexico near Southwest Pass, Louisiana. The vessel sank later that day at 2057. The master and one crewmember suffered minor lacerations, and the remaining two crewmembers are presumed dead.
The probable cause of the loss of the fishing vessel Christopher’s Joy was the master’s disregard for the impact of the deployed fishing gear upon the vessel’s reserve stability while performing turning maneuvers. Contributing to the loss of life were inadequate safety training and practices.
