Pelican (Fishing Vessel)

FV Pelican was a party boat, or head boat, operating out of Montauk, New York, which capsized on September 1, 1951, killing 45 passengers and crew, including the captain Eddie Carroll.

Pelican was originally constructed as the 42-foot (12.8-meter) passenger fishing vessel Bellboy III in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. The vessel was constructed with an enclosed cabin. At 14 gross tons, she was not subject to United States Coast Guard regulations and annual inspection, which were required only of vessels more than 15 gross tons. She was powered by twin 100-hp (74.57-Kw) Chrysler engines.

At the time of the accident, Pelican was owned by Eddie Carroll, who held a U.S. Coast Guard captain′s license. She operated as a party boat from the Fishangrila Dock at Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, New York, taking customers fishing for the day in the waters around Montauk. The Fishangrila Dock was within walking distance of the Montauk station of the Long Island Railroad. On weekends, the railroad ran "Fisherman's Special" trains from New York City to Montauk; passengers would exit the train and climb aboard one of the waiting party boats and pay their fare for a day of fishing.

On September 1, 1951, as the Fisherman's Special emptied its passengers, 62 fares climbed aboard Pelican, as did her captain, Eddie Carroll, and mate. Pelican left Fishangrila Dock at 7:30 AM, carrying 64 passengers and crew, which was grossly in excess of her safe carrying capacity. Weather forecasts posted at Fishangrila Dock called for a line of approaching storms and changing winds. After rounding Montauk Point and fishing on the south side of Montauk in the Atlantic Ocean for several hours, Pelican began to return to Fishangrila Dock, due to rough seas, at approximately 11:30 AM.

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