On December 10, 2020, about 2205 local time, the fishing vessel Lucky Angel was trawling for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico, 20 miles from Pascagoula, Mississippi, when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room. The three crewmembers attempted to fight the fire but were forced to abandon the vessel. They were rescued by the US Coast Guard, and the vessel sank 2 days later. No pollution was reported, but there was one minor injury. The vessel was a total constructive loss with an estimated value of $120,000.
We determined that the probable cause of the engine room fire aboard the fishing vessel Lucky Angel was the deterioration or chafing of wiring insulation, which caused arcing that ignited nearby combustible materials.
