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Texas A&M U. Faults Boat’s Manufacturer for Deadly 2008 Accident
By admin | July 18, 2009
Texas A&M U. Faults Boat’s Manufacturer for Deadly 2008 Accident
An internal investigation by the Texas A&M University system has concluded that design and construction flaws in a sailboat led to a boating accident that killed a crew member and left five others stranded for 26 hours in the Gulf of Mexico last summer.
The university’s report, released today, contradicts the U.S. Coast Guard’s conclusion that improper care, repairs, and maintenance of the 38-foot boat caused the June 2008 disaster, which occurred during a race from Galveston, Tex., to Veracruz, Mexico, the Houston Chronicle reported.
In its report, the Coast Guard concluded that the keel of the Cynthia Woods had been damaged by repeated groundings and had not been properly repaired by students at Texas A&M’s Galveston campus. The report found no evidence of design or manufacturing flaws.
Andrew Strong, general counsel for the A&M system, told regents today that the groundings and repairs had not contributed to the accident. He said the boat’s hull was too thin and the backing plate that attaches the keel to the hull was too narrow.
The boat’s manufacturer, Cape Fear Yacht Works, issued a statement today challenging that assertion.
“We are disappointed to hear Texas A&M University refuses to accept any responsibility for the events related to the June 2008 capsizing of the Cynthia Woods, which Texas A&M University owned and operated, especially in light of the United States Coast Guard findings,” the company said.
Roger Stone, a safety officer for A&M, drowned and five other crew members, including four students, were eventually rescued by the Coast Guard.
The A&M report did, however, find fault with several aspects of the university’s sailing program and recommended a series of changes, including better safety precautions and oversight. —Katherine Mangan
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