'Conception' Captain Charged With 34 Counts Of 'Seaman's Manslaughter' In 2019 Boat Fire

The captain of the P/V Conception, a dive boat that caught fire last year off the California coast, was indicted Tuesday on 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 34 people who died as a result of the fire.

Often dubbed the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history so far, the unfortunate incident took place in September 2019 when the 75-foot boat was on a Labor Day weekend diving excursion. The boat was anchored overnight at Platts Harbor in Santa Barbara County with 33 passengers and at least one crew member on board when it erupted in flames and eventually sank, killing everyone.

Jerry Boylan, 67, the leader of the tour and captain of the vessel "was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers, " the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, which announced the charges, said in the indictment. It alleges that Boylan caused the deaths of the victims “by his misconduct, negligence and inattention to his duties.”

The indictment has specified three safety violations by Boylan, which triggered the deadly fire. Prosecutors alleged that Boylan failed to have a night watch roving patrol, conduct fire drills and conduct sufficient crew training, all of which are mandatory as per the Code of Federal Regulations.

" As a result of the alleged failures of Captain Boylan to follow well-established safety rules, a pleasant holiday dive trip turned into a hellish nightmare as passengers and one crew member found themselves trapped in a fiery bunkroom with no means of escape," attorney Nick Hanna said in the statement.

"The loss of life that day will forever impact the families of the 34 victims. With this indictment and our commitment to vigorously prosecute the case, we seek a small measure of justice for the victims and their loved ones," the statement said.

"This tragedy forever altered the lives of so many families and loved ones, and it deeply affected members of the public who watched in horror. We continue to grieve with them," Kristi K. Johnson, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, was quoted in the indictment, as saying.

Each charge of seaman’s manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.