A tugboat captain died and three crewmembers were rescued in March when the vessel sank off New York’s Fire Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the three crewmembers after one of the men was able to make a cell phone call as the Sea Bear was sinking.

“They had only seconds to let us know before they sank,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Morgan Gallapis.

Lars Vetland, 43, of Staten Island; Jason Reimer, 38, of Leonardo, New Jersey; and Rainer Bendixen, 22, of Bay Head, New Jersey, were pulled from the stormy, icy waters about a mile off of a section of the island known as Fire Island Pines. The crewmembers were wearing immersion suits and were treated for hypothermia.

The captain, Donald Maloney, wasn’t able to put an immersion suit on before the vessel sank in the 37 degree waters. The Coast Guard, a helicopter, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau Boats, and two other tug boats assisted in the search for Maloney.

The accident occurred during a storm, but the cause of the sinking was not yet known. The tugboat was among three that were returning to their base after working on a dredging project.

“This tug was in the back of the line when it sank,” Gallapis said. “The other tugs continued without seeing them. They heard the distress call and headed back to assist in the search.”

Ship Sinking Accident Help

A full investigation is key in determining the cause of a vessel sinking. While weather can often be a factor, there are usually other factors that lead to the ship going down.

“When a ship sinks in stormy weather, it’s most often not just because of the storm,” said Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. “The underlying cause may be Improper crew training, an unseaworthy vessel, improperly loaded cargo, or other issues of negligence.”

The maritime attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. help crewmembers who have been injured and the families of those killed in ship sinking accidents. Our attorneys conduct an independent investigation to ensure evidence is preserved and analyzed to determine the true cause of the sinking.

Our law firm has extensive experience in maritime worker drowning cases, including a recent case in Wilmington, Delaware, in which a dredge worker drowned.

SMSH attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience in investigating ship sinkings and other maritime accidents. Our New York maritime lawyers have helped hundreds of seamen and other maritime workers from across the United States to get the maximum compensation possible for their injuries and other damages. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Source: USA Today