# Presentation: 921869

## M/V ETHAN ALLEN

- Rob Henry

## Stability Safety Issues

- Stability of the *Ethan Allen*
- Passenger weight criteria for stability – *Ethan Allen *& *Lady D *

## Ethan Allen’s Last Voyage

- Routine conditions
- Nearly a full load of passengers
- No known previous incidents
- In good condition
- Capsized without warning

## Dyer 40-foot Hull - No Canopy

*Ethan Allen* delivered in 1964-looked similar to photo of sister vessel, *Algonquin* (ex. *Sea Lyon*)
- Believed to have passed Simplified Stability Test (SST) for 48 passengers in 1966
- Two sister vessels delivered in 1966

- Photo from New York State

## Metal Framed Canvas Canopy

*Ethan Allen* with canvas canopy originally installed in Groton
- Stability assessment not done nor required by USCG
- New York State accepted passenger loading data from last Coast Guard COI in 1979
*De Champlain’s* canvas  canopy installed at Lake George
- Stability assessment not done nor required by New York State

- Photos courtesy of Shoreline Cruises

*Ethan Allen*

*de Champlain*

## Wood Canopy

- Wooden canopy replaced canvas canopy on the *Ethan Allen* in 1989
*De Champlain *and *Algonquin * new wooden canopies installed in 1990 and 1991, respectively.
- No stability assessment done following these modifications.

## Post Accident Testing  Results

*De Champlain* failed on scene SST for 48 passengers
*De Champlain *inclined to obtain vessel characteristic

## Coast Guard Stability Criteria Applicable to Ethan Allen

- Evaluated each configuration against SST and Subchapter S
- Only variant of *Ethan Allen* to pass SST with passengers was original 1964 configuration (without a canopy)
- Original “as delivered” version could carry up to 58 passengers and crew
- Canvas canopy variants failed to meet stability criteria
- Wood canopy passed for a reduced passenger load

## Ethan Allen Overloading

- 140 pounds average weight criteria used by USCG and NY State
- Average weight per passenger was almost 178 lbs per person
*Ethan Allen* was carrying over 4 times the passenger weight
- Roughly 3⁄4 of this excessive weight was attributable to certificating the vessel for too many passengers
- Stability was not reassessed after the canopies were added/modified
- 1⁄4 due to the 38 pound difference in average passenger weight

## Ethan Allen’s Margin of Stability

*Ethan Allen’s * departure condition had about 1/3 righting energy needed to pass USCG passenger vessel stability criteria
- Doesn’t necessarily mean it would capsize
- Probability is higher because margin of safety is lower
- Influences contributing to the capsize

## Dynamic Analysis In Waves

- Numerical simulation software analyzed *Ethan Allen *for variables
- Speed, heading, wave height, wave frequency and  movement of passengers
- Maximum roll produced was about 15 degrees to port
- Submerging about 1⁄2 the vessel’s port freeboard
- No capsize produced

## Other Factors Contributed to Capsize

- Unique set of factors
- Vessel’s marginal stability overwhelmed
- Roll induced from sharp turn to starboard
- Involuntary passenger movement to port

## Ethan Allen’s Capsize

- Following slides represents staff’s scenario of capsize
- Based on testimony, examination of the vessel, and the results of the stability study

- Initial trim by the bow

- Initial heel 2 degrees to port

- Approaching waves

- Hard turn to starboard heels vessel further to port

- Wave or waves roll vessel further to port

- Port roll causes passenger shift

- Capsize

## Cause of the Ethan Allen’s Capsize

- Insufficient stability due to overloading
- Overloading from too many passengers
- Passengers average weight exceeded criteria
- Unable to right itself :
- Sharp turn
- Passing waves
- Involuntary movement of passengers

## Capsize of Lady D – March 6, 2004

- US Navy photo

## Domestic Passenger Vessel Weight Criteria for Stability

- Coast Guard to periodically update the average passenger weight criteria
- Provide operators a method for determining maximum safe load condition.
- New York State has adopted 174 lbs average
- Coast Guard’s voluntary interim measures
- Coast Guard’s on going regulation project

## Slide 24

## M/V ETHAN ALLEN

- Rob Henry

## New York State Passenger Load Criteria

- Use of manufacturer capacity plate data to determine public vessel passenger loading

## New York State’s Use of Manufacturer Capacity Plate Data

- 382 New York State regulated public vessels passenger loading based on manufacturer’s capacity plate data
- Capacity plate is attached to vessel by manufacturer
- Includes rated passenger load in pounds and number of person allowed
- USCG criteria found in 33 CFR 183

## Coast Guard Capacity Plate Standard

- Noncommercial  standard based on recreational boating surveys
- Not used by Coast Guard for commercial small passenger vessel certification – 46 Subchapter T
- 1/3 of New York State public vessels  using capacity plates carry more than that 6 passengers for hire
- Adopt Coast Guard Subchapter T & S passenger vessel stability criteria

## Slide 29