24 Proceedings Summer 2025 Small Passenger Stability Tests Why they are crucial for commercial vessels by cWo4 Jonathan shiPPeRley Marine Inspector Marine Safety Unit Coram U.S. Coast Guard T he town of Montauk is located on the easternmost point on Long Island, New York’s south fork. A sto- ried tourist destination, it is famous for its fishing, surfing, and beaches. It is also, among other things, the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s book, Jaws. On September 1, 1951, it became famous for another reason. The Pelican, a 42-foot passenger vessel with twin gas- oline engines and a flying bridge, had set sail that morn- ing from Montauk with 64 people on board who were ready for a day of fun and fishing. Several hours later, the Pelican capsized, killing 44 passengers and the captain. It was an unprecedented tragedy that spurred the Coast Guard to implement new stability and inspection regula- tions, the essence of which are still in effect decades later. Today, all U.S.-flagged vessels in the United States that operate on navigable waterways and carry more than six passengers for hire are required to be inspected by the Coast Guard. Regulations define small passenger vessels as vessels under 100 gross tons (GT). Small pas- senger vessels that carry under 150 passengers are regu- lated under 46 C.F.R. Subchapter T, and small passenger vessels that carry over 150 passengers or have overnight accommodations for more than 49 passengers are regu- lated under 46 C.F.R. Subchapter K, known respectively as T and K boats. The specific number of passengers that can be carried is further regulated by a vessel’s construc- tion, length, lifesaving capabilities, and, particularly, the results of a stability test. But it was not always this way. In 1951, only passenger vessels over 15 GT were inspected by the Coast Guard, regardless of how many passengers could be carried on board. Consequently, many passenger vessels of that era were specifically built to come in under 15 GT, including the Pelican, which was 14 GT. The only limiting factor in determining how many passengers a vessel could carry at that time was the cap- tain’s judgment that the ship could be operated safely, and that each person had access to a lifejacket. The cap- tain was not required to have any sort of vessel training, let alone a merchant mariner’s credential. Saturday, September 1, 1951, fell on Labor Day week- end, often considered the unofficial end of summer. Montauk was a popular destination for fishermen and the train that ran from New York’s Penn Station directly to Montauk was dubbed the “Fisherman’s Special.” On that day, more people than usual boarded the train including nearly 400 fishermen. When the train reached Montauk about three hours later, a mass exodus of eager fisher- man rushed to the Fishangri-la docks to secure a spot on one of their favorite boats. The Pelican was a favorite for many anglers, and they liked the captain. Worried that there were already too many fishermen aboard, some passengers hid in the forward cabin, remaining unseen until the Pelican was already on its way. The Pelican was originally built as a recreational ves- sel in 1940, and the manufacturer recommended no more than 30 people be carried on board at one time. That day, there were 62 passengers and two crewmembers on board. Accounts from the few survivors stated they thought the vessel probably had too many passengers on board, but they trusted the captain and decided to stay. Some passengers stayed because they feared if they disembarked, it would be too late to get a spot on another fishing vessel. The Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation, which convened as a result of the marine casualty, stated the Pelican was overloaded, highlighting that if it was subject to inspection standards, the Coast Guard would have limited the vessel to about 20 passengers. “This opinion is based primarily on the fact that, without any previous structural damage to her hull, the craft actually did capsize and that the capsizing can be attributed to no other cause than the presence on board of a human and consequently a shifting cargo above the waterline of approximately four tons.”1 The Pelican left port at approximately 8:30 a.m., motored past Lake Montauk, rounded Montauk Point, and headed for Frisbie Bank, a point in the Atlantic Ocean about a mile off the south shore of Long Island and approximately 11 miles from Fishangri-la. This area was one of the captain’s favorite fishing spots, and the weather was still good. In 1951, weather forecasting was not as precise as it is today, so the most recent weather report was from the previous evening. This, along with weather observations from other ships farther out, was
