CHARTER BOAT CAPTAIN SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS IN PRISON
PORTLAND, OREGON – An Oregon charter fishing boat captain was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment today in federal court in Portland. Richard J. Oba, of Winchester Bay, was the owner and captain of the Sydney Mae II, a 38 foot boat Oba used to conduct fishing charters. On September 19, 2005, Oba steered the boat into dangerous waters after being warned to stay away by the U. S. Coast Guard. The boat was struck by large wave and sunk off the Umpqua River Bar, killing three passengers. Oba had pled guilty to three counts of Seaman’s Manslaughter, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1115.
I don’t know about you, but this scares me a little. Not that this captain was in the right (he probably wasn’t), but I really don’t like the idea that the USCG can play Monday Morning Quarterback, and put a guy in jail on a “I told ya so!” clause. IF that one wave hadn’t come along, this would not be a headline.
Here is what I wonder: is the reverse true? If the USCG says its ok to go, and something goes wrong, can I sue?
{ 2 comments }
Doug, I somewhat agree with your last paragraph, but my question is: “Have you ever seen or been on the Umpqua River Bar?? I have during my USCG days back in the late “70′s”. As I recall it somewhat rivals the Columbia River Bar. Back then the USCG ran “Inlet Patrol” with a 44ft Motor Lifeboat on the Bar monitoring conditions and when the surf got bad warned the fishermen not to cross the bar. It was a somewhat hazardous crossing on GOOD days. The description used in your paragraph: ” The boat was struck by a “large” wave is somewhat misleading. Most of the waves that come across that bar were “large” and most of the Charter boat captains back then knew the bar and generally heeded the warnings. The rush to “make a buck” and competition in the industry, may have caused him to error on the side of bad judgement. I would want to have a little more info on the case before I slammed it to hard – Charlie Meyer TBUS Lake of the Ozarks
I worked at USCG Station Umpqua River up until march of 2005, and to say the waves are large there is an under statement (at times reaching higher than 35ft). During my years there we had several issues with former capitan Oba he rarely heeded our advice and when we would put safety restrictions on the bar he would complain to the point of throwing a fit in front of the station. He would cross on the north side of the Bar wich was not the marked range and is more prone to surf conditions. While standing watch at the tower on the entrance we would routinely have to notify the station of his at times reckless actions. In my years there I never saw another capitan repeatedly have such disregard for authority or safety! He deserves every day of that sentence. And to respond to your comment about “playing monday morning quarterback” … He was advised not to cross the bar several times by not only the USCG but other boaters as well. His neglegence cost three people their lives! and that is the job of Coast Guard to not only save lives but to ensure those who voluntarily cost others thier lives are held accountable. the Coast Guard didn’t send him to jail a federal judge made that decision. God bless and keep safe the brave young men and women who risk thier lives to ensure the safety of others.
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