Included in the NTSB report on the sinking of the F/V Scandies Rose were a series of findings voted on and accepted by the board. Among them was the finding that there were no issues with the conduct of captain or crew on the incident voyage or problems with the vessel itself. During the hearing, a series of welds made on the Scandies Rose were scrutinized heavily, but the NTSB found that this did not contribute to the sinking of the vessel.
The NTSB also found that the ice accumulation on the F/V Scandies Rose likely would have been between 6 and 15 inches on the wind-facing side. This would raise the Scandies’ center of gravity and lower its stability, thus contributing to the capsizing.
The findings of the NTSB report state specifically that while the crew loaded the vessel according to the vessel’s stability instructions, these instructions were inaccurate and thus left the Scandies Rose outside of regulatory stability requirements.
Notably, the NTSB also calls for an oversight program to audit stability instructions for uninspected commercial fishing vessels that are not required to carry a load line certificate. For now, this is just a recommendation to the Coast Guard; it is unclear if such a body will be brought into operation.
The report also stated “The National Weather Service cannot accurately forecast the more extreme localized wind and sea conditions for the area, which can lead to vessels encountering conditions that are worse than expected.”
The NTSB also recommended that NOAA increase surface observation resources for the Sutwik Island and Chignik Bay region.