Stupid News??? - "Fishing boat accident spurs indictment"

[livetofishnj]

Gotta love the NJ DEP, now it's bad enough they sank the boat, but they just gotta find a way to really screw the guy. He wasn't even at the helm...

Sinking off Manasquan left diesel-fuel slick
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
BY MARYANN SPOTO
Star-Ledger Staff

A crew member aboard a commercial fishing boat that sank off the Manasquan Inlet was indicted yesterday on charges he illegally discharged diesel fuel into the Atlantic Ocean.

The indictment charged Keith Rose, 46, of Wellfleet, Mass., with one count of violating the state's Water Pollution Control Act in the July 2 crash that resulted in the sinking of the Susan II, state Attor ney General Anne Milgram said.

Rose, along with his younger brother, Shawn Rose, and a third crew member, were aboard the 69-foot vessel when it crashed into the inlet's jetty shortly after midnight, just after leaving a marina in Point Pleasant, Milgram said.

According to Milgram, witnesses told investigators the Susan II, owned by Northstar II Fisheries of Gloucester, Mass., crashed into the jetty on the north side of the Manasquan Inlet after nearly crashing into the southern jetty.

The crash left a hole about 2 feet by 8 inches in the bottom of the ship, which was carrying between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. A crew member radioed for help when the vessel began tak ing on water, and all three men were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, but the accident left a 30-foot-wide sheen of diesel fuel stretching more than 3 miles in the ocean toward Mantoloking. At the time, Ocean County and state environmental officials said the fuel stayed offshore and posed no hazard heading into the Fourth of July holiday.

As the fishing boat headed out to start clamming, it was close to shore, an area that falls under the jurisdiction of the state. State law prohibits discharge of pollutants without a valid permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The offense is a fourth-degree crime that carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $50,000.

Milgram said investigators determined that Keith Rose was responsible for taking the boat out that night.

The day after the sinking, State Police charged Shawn Rose, 44, also of Wellfleet, with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and with re fusing to take a Breathalyzer test.

Authorities would not elaborate on why one brother was indicted when the other brother initially was determined to be at the helm.

The Susan II sank about a half- mile from the inlet in 30 feet of water and was raised eight days later by a salvage company.

[g_max_2003@hotmail.com]

i dont beileve that after loosin their boat the owner is ow being forced to pay fines for leaking diesel. the state should spend their time and money targeting the real polluters.this definitely shows their lack of brains

[Double D]

The captain was the one that was hammered, shouldn't he pay the fine?

[tunatamer4]

Narrowly missing the south jetty should have been a clue to the others that he had no business at the helm. Then to swing across the inlet and hit the north jetty? Come on now, they deserve whatever they get.

I have been through that inlet MANY times and seen it on some pretty snotty days, and if it was due to weather, they shouldn't have tried it. If it was just due to being F-d up, F-em.

[ElMar2530]

Narrowly missing the south jetty should have been a clue to the others that he had no business at the helm. Then to swing across the inlet and hit the north jetty? Come on now, they deserve whatever they get.

I have been through that inlet MANY times and seen it on some pretty snotty days, and if it was due to weather, they shouldn't have tried it. If it was just due to being F-d up, F-em.

Agreed, no excuse for it, if in fact they were hammered, they deserve it.

Could have been one of us coming out of that inlet getting hit by a 69ft commercial vessel.

[relentless]

I believe the insurance companies cover this in most cases, if they are convicted of operating a boat while Under the influence
of drugs or alcohol they may not cover it. Hey someone should pay and clean up the mess.

[frank daleo]

this was the second time a commerical boat hit the north jetty. This one was actually coming in and ended up along the wall of the PP side of the inlet...i believe if he was under the influence, the capt should pay..