Pelican (Fishing Vessel)
Encyclopedia
The FV Pelican was a party boat, or head boat, operating out of Montauk, New York
, which capsized on September 1, 1951, killing 45 passengers, including the captain Eddie Carroll.
, NY and known as the Belboy II. The vessel was constructed with an enclosed cabin. At 14 gross tons, she was not subject to Coast Guard
regulations and annual inspection, which were required only of vessels more than 15 gross tons. She was equipped with twin 100 hp Chrysler
engines.
At the time of the accident, the Pelican was owned by Eddie Carroll, who held a Coast Guard captain's license. It was operated as a party boat operating out of the Fishangrila Dock at Fort Pond Bay
in Montauk, taking customers fishing for the day in the waters around Montauk. The Fishangrila Dock was within walking distance of the Montauk Long Island Railroad station. On weekends, the railroad ran "Fisherman's Special" trains from New York City to Montauk. Passengers would exit the train and climb aboard one of the waiting party boats and pay their fare for a day of fishing.
for several hours, the Pelican began to return to Fishangrila, due to rough seas, at approximately 11:30 AM.
Encountering engine trouble on the way, which lengthened the trip, Pelican began to have difficulty making time against the conditions, with only one working engine. The weather changed suddenly as the squall line approached, with a strong northeast wind developing against an outgoing tide. The wind has been estimated at 25 to 35 mph and the waves as high as 15 feet in the rips near Montauk Point. While rounding Montauk Point at approximately 2:00 PM, the Pelican was hit by two successive waves on the starboard quarter and capsized to port, spilling most of its passengers and crew in the water, while trapping others inside the cabin. The vessel then foundered. The accident occurred within sight of Montauk Lighthouse, approximately one mile north off the point in the area known as Endeavor Shoals.
Two private fishing boats, the Betty Ann and Bingo II, were the first to respond and rescue passengers. The Coast Guard
picketboat that responded approximately one hour later was only able to rescue one passenger found clinging to the hull. In all, 45 passengers and crew, including Capt. Eddie Carroll were killed.
and his vessel Cricket II, then a party boat also based at Fishangrila, and was later transferred to the Coast Guard picketboat, which towed it into Lake Montauk
. As a result, several additional bodies were recovered which otherwise might have been lost if the vessel were allowed to sink.
Following the disaster, a Coast Guard investigation was conducted. The investigating board estimated that Pelican could not have safely carried more than 30 passengers and that its overloaded conditions contributed to the capsize and loss of life, by causing the vessel to ride low in the water and exaggerating the rolling motion caused by the waves. The failure of Carroll to keep himself aware of the weather conditions and to properly distribute his passengers on the vessel were also cited as reasons for the capsize. The investigation concluded that more stringent safety regulations were necessary for the regulation of such boats. The "T-boat" regulations, 46 CFR
, subchapter T, which included routine inspections of all vessels for hire carrying six or more people and strict regulation of passenger capacity went into effect in 1957.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which capsized on September 1, 1951, killing 45 passengers, including the captain Eddie Carroll.
Background
The Pelican was originally constructed as a passenger fishing vessel in 1940 in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NY and known as the Belboy II. The vessel was constructed with an enclosed cabin. At 14 gross tons, she was not subject to Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
regulations and annual inspection, which were required only of vessels more than 15 gross tons. She was equipped with twin 100 hp Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
engines.
At the time of the accident, the Pelican was owned by Eddie Carroll, who held a Coast Guard captain's license. It was operated as a party boat operating out of the Fishangrila Dock at Fort Pond Bay
Fort Pond Bay
Fort Pond Bay is a bay off Long Island Sound at Montauk, New York that was site of the first port on the end of Long Island. The bay has a long naval and civilian history.-New-York Province and the American Revolution:...
in Montauk, taking customers fishing for the day in the waters around Montauk. The Fishangrila Dock was within walking distance of the Montauk Long Island Railroad station. On weekends, the railroad ran "Fisherman's Special" trains from New York City to Montauk. Passengers would exit the train and climb aboard one of the waiting party boats and pay their fare for a day of fishing.
September 1, 1951
On September 1, 1951, as the Fisherman's Special emptied its passengers, 62 fares climbed aboard the Pelican, plus its Captain, Eddie Carroll and mate. The 42 foot Pelican left Fishangrila at 7:30 AM, carrying 64 passengers and crew, which was grossly in excess of its safe carrying capacity. Weather forecasts posted at Fishangrila called for a line of approaching storms and changing winds. After rounding Montauk Point and fishing on the south side of Montauk in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
for several hours, the Pelican began to return to Fishangrila, due to rough seas, at approximately 11:30 AM.
Encountering engine trouble on the way, which lengthened the trip, Pelican began to have difficulty making time against the conditions, with only one working engine. The weather changed suddenly as the squall line approached, with a strong northeast wind developing against an outgoing tide. The wind has been estimated at 25 to 35 mph and the waves as high as 15 feet in the rips near Montauk Point. While rounding Montauk Point at approximately 2:00 PM, the Pelican was hit by two successive waves on the starboard quarter and capsized to port, spilling most of its passengers and crew in the water, while trapping others inside the cabin. The vessel then foundered. The accident occurred within sight of Montauk Lighthouse, approximately one mile north off the point in the area known as Endeavor Shoals.
Two private fishing boats, the Betty Ann and Bingo II, were the first to respond and rescue passengers. The Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
picketboat that responded approximately one hour later was only able to rescue one passenger found clinging to the hull. In all, 45 passengers and crew, including Capt. Eddie Carroll were killed.
Aftermath
The hull, foundering beneath the waves, was first secured near Montauk Point by legendary Montauk fisherman Capt. Frank MundusFrank Mundus
Frank Mundus was a sport fisherman at Montauk, New York who is said to be the inspiration for the character Quint in the movie and book Jaws...
and his vessel Cricket II, then a party boat also based at Fishangrila, and was later transferred to the Coast Guard picketboat, which towed it into Lake Montauk
Lake Montauk
Lake Montauk is a 900-acre embayment in Montauk, New York that is home to the largest commercial and sporting fish fleets in the state of New York.-History:...
. As a result, several additional bodies were recovered which otherwise might have been lost if the vessel were allowed to sink.
Following the disaster, a Coast Guard investigation was conducted. The investigating board estimated that Pelican could not have safely carried more than 30 passengers and that its overloaded conditions contributed to the capsize and loss of life, by causing the vessel to ride low in the water and exaggerating the rolling motion caused by the waves. The failure of Carroll to keep himself aware of the weather conditions and to properly distribute his passengers on the vessel were also cited as reasons for the capsize. The investigation concluded that more stringent safety regulations were necessary for the regulation of such boats. The "T-boat" regulations, 46 CFR
CFR
CFR can refer to:* Code of Federal Regulations of the United States* Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. foreign policy think tank* Campaign finance reform in the United States* Cost and Freight, word used in international commerce...
, subchapter T, which included routine inspections of all vessels for hire carrying six or more people and strict regulation of passenger capacity went into effect in 1957.