US Coast Guard completes investigation into loss of crab boat near Newport, Oregon

The US Coast Guard has completed its investigation into the January 8, 2019, loss of the commercial fishing vessel Mary B II and three crewmembers on the Yaquina Bay Bar near Newport, Oregon.

The coast guard convened a board of investigation, which held one public hearing session the week of May 13 to 17, 2019, in Newport, Oregon. A copy of the Report of Investigation into this casualty can be obtained at the following link: Marine Casualty Reports (uscg.mil).

Three individuals were inbound the Yaquina Bay Bar aboard Mary B II when it capsized without warning at 22:08 local time on January 8, 2019.

Two of the fishermen were tossed overboard into the stormy Pacific Ocean with reported high waves and were later found unresponsive. The third individual was extracted from the crab boat’s cabin by responding coast guard motor life boat crews the following morning.

All three crewmembers were later pronounced deceased.

A toxicology report that was released to the public revealed the boat’s skipper, Stephen Biernacki, had alcohol, methamphetamine, and amphetamine in his system on the night of the incident.