‘Conception’ captain charged with 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter

LOS ANGELES—Jerry Boylan, the captain of the Santa Barbara-based dive boat that caught fire last year, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 34 counts of seaman’s manslaughter. Each charge of seaman’s manslaughter carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The 67-year-old was the captain aboard Conception when it caught fire during a Labor Day weekend dive trip in 2019 while anchored near Santa Cruz Island. One crewmember and 33 passengers who had been sleeping below deck were killed in the blaze. Five crewmembers, including Boylan, escaped and survived.. The indictment, filed Dec. 1, alleges Boylan, as the captain and master of the vessel, “was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its crew, and its passengers.” The indictment alleges that Boylan caused the deaths “by his misconduct, negligence, and inattention to his duties.” The indictment cites three specific safety violations: failing to have a night watch or roving patrol, which was required by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and for over 20 years was a requirement in the Conception’s Certificate of Inspection issued by the U.S. Coast Guard; failing to conduct sufficient fire drills, which are mandated in the CFR; and failing to...