ENTANGLEMENT OF THE SUBMERSIBLE JOHNSON SEA LINK WITH SUBMERGED WRECKAGE OFF KEY WEST, FLORIDA ON OR ABOUT 17 JUNE 1973 WITH LOSS OF LIFE. MARINE CASUALTY REPORT

On June 17, 1973, near Key West, Florida, the submersible JOHNSON SEA LINK became entangled in a cable of the wreckage of the scuttled destroyer U.S.S. FRED T. BERRY. The JOHNSON SEA LINK had been attempting to retrieve a fish trap in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. Before the submersible was recovered, more than 33 hours later, two of the four persons on board had died as a result of carbon dioxide poisoning. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the fouling of the starboard spring-loaded moused hook and other appendages on the submersible with a cable attached to the aftermost flagpole of the scuttled destroyer. Contributing to the carbon dioxide fatalities was the inadequacy of the carbon dioxide absorbent system in the dive chamber, and the lack of suitable rescue equipment was a factor in the inability to provide a timely rescue.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This Marine Casuality Report includes Marine Safety Recommendations M-75-5 through M-75-8.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Transportation Safety Board

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20594

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Publication Date: 1975-1-15

Media Info

• Pagination: 37 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Atmosphere; Carbon dioxide; Casualties; Crash investigation; Crashes; Hazards; Life support systems; Safety; Search and rescue operations; Submersibles; Vehicle occupant rescue
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Old TRIS Terms: Hazardous atmospheres; Life support; Ss sealink
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090317
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: USCG-NTSB-MAR-75-2
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 22 1978 12:00AM