Probe of boat's sinking leads to crab pot lines
Investigation into deadly sinking of vessel off Washington coast leads to crab pot lines
WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) -- Testimony in a second round of hearings into a fishing vessel that sank off the Washington coast, killing four people, has raised the possibility that the boat got tangled in crab pot lines.
The Lady Cecilia sank quickly March 10 about 20 miles west of Leadbetter Point. The four people onboard could neither escape nor send a distress signal.
The Daily Astorian reports (http://bit.ly/Tkke1I) a marine construction and salvage company owner testified this week in Warrenton, Ore., that the 70-foot trawler may have gotten tangled in some errant crab pot lines, listing one way and then capsizing the other when a stabilizing device snapped off.
The Lady Cecilia was found in September in more than 300 feet of water and was examined using a remote-controlled sub.
A U.S. Coast Guard investigator says this week's hearings ended the public part of the probe, and a report may be made public by next summer.
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Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com
