Witness schedule set for the Coast Guard MBI hearing for the fishing vessel Destination

News Release

August 2, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs Office: (202) 372-4630 After Hours: (202) 603-3281

Witness schedule set for the Coast Guard MBI hearing for the fishing vessel Destination

WASHINGTON -The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a public Marine Board of Investigation hearing into the loss of the Fishing Vessel Destination, and its six crewmembers. This hearing session will focus on weather and human factors as well as the mechanical state and stability of the vessel before and during its final voyage. The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct its own investigation and is fully participating in the Marine Board of Investigation hearing.

 

What: Marine Casualty Board of Investigation

When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST Monday, August 7 – Friday, August 18, 2017 (excluding weekends)

Where: Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, 4^th floor Auditorium, 915 2^nd Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104

How: There are several ways interested parties may stay up to date with the MBI proceedings.

 

The Coast Guard will be tweeting live hearing updates from @uscoastguard with the following hashtags: #CGMBI #FVDestination.

 

An e-mail has been set up for interested parties to ask questions or make comments. This e-mail will be checked regularly. The e- mail is: fvdestination@uscg.mil

 

The Coast Guard is also hosting a live stream of the proceedings. The web address for the live stream is: https://livestream.com/USCGinvestigations/events/7633480

 

Attached to this advisory is a copy of the full hearing schedule. The schedule is subject to change based on factors including, but not limited to witness and board availability, time and weather. Please follow @uscoastguard on Twitter or the Coast Guard Maritime Commons blog for the most up to date changes.

Members of the public that wish to attend are welcome to do so on a first come first serve basis. Members of the public will be allowed into the hearing room at 8:30 am. 

  

Media coverage:

Reporters must register to attend the hearing by emailing: alana.l.miller@uscg.mil. Media must register no later than 4 p.m Friday, August 4th.

 

Registered media will be allowed into the hearing room at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 7^th for a site survey and to set up equipment. After the first day media will be allowed in at 8:30 a.m.

 

Ground Rules for the Destination Marine Board Investigation hearing are:

Reporters may attend open sessions of the Marine Board, as may members of the public as long as they do not detract from the decorum of the proceedings or inhibit a witness' willingness to testify. The Coast Guard's policy is to permit expanded media coverage of marine casualty investigations therefore audio and video recordings are authorized.

• Media pooling will be required.
• Witnesses will not be available for interviews until the Marine Board Chairman releases them from their testimony.
• Entering and exiting the hearing room shall be conducted only during designated breaks.
• No extreme close-ups of documents, witnesses and/or members of the Marine Board.
• Bench conferences shall not be recorded by audio or by extreme close-up video or photography.
• Media members must prominently display their credentials at all times and remain within assigned area.
• Confidential communications between counsel and client or co-counsel shall not be recorded by audio or by extreme close-up video or photography.
• Questions regarding the proceedings shall be directed to the Coast Guard media liaison. A liaison will be present at the venue throughout the hearing.

Failure to adhere to these rules or other verbal instructions may result in removal from the hearings.

 

 

Contacts:

Alana Miller, Public Affiars Office, alana.l.miller@uscg.mil, 202-510-6523

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790,

The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History, Powerful Future

 

 

 

-USCG-

• DESTINATION+Hearing+Schedule_01AUG.doc