On the cold evening of January 8, 1999, 29-year-old Steven Reeves was working as a fisherman aboard the F/V Cape Fear, a 112-foot clamming vessel. The ship was making its way back to New Bedford, Massachusetts, through Buzzards Bay, approximately three miles off the coast of Dartmouth. The weather conditions were challenging, with winds blowing at 25-30 knots and seas reaching heights of six to ten feet, accompanied by rain and sleet. Steven had been a crewman on the Cape Fear for about 18 months and was in the wheelhouse with two other deckhands and the captain, Steven Novack, as they headed toward the calmer waters of the bay. The mood was lighthearted, with the crew joking and conversing, seemingly unaware of the imminent danger.
The situation took a dire turn around 8:00 p.m. when a large wave washed over the stern of the Cape Fear and the water did not drain away. The captain was initially puzzled and concerned as the rear of the boat began to settle evenly into the sea.
Shortly after, around 8:15 p.m., the vessel capsized and sank. The rapid sinking left little time for the crew to react. A distress call was made to a nearby vessel, the F/V Misty Dawn, reporting that the Cape Fear was taking on water and requesting they contact the Coast Guard. The Misty Dawn responded quickly and was able to rescue three of the five crew members from the icy water: Captain Steven Novack, mate James Haley Jr., and deckhand Joseph Lemieux. The survivors had been in the water for approximately 30 minutes.
Tragically, Steven Reeves and another deckhand, Paul Martin, did not survive the sinking. The following morning, Paul Martin's body was discovered washed ashore on Gooseberry Neck in Westport. He was found with his survival suit only zipped up to his waist. Steven Reeves was last seen with his survival suit half-donned and, despite extensive search efforts, his body was never recovered. He is presumed to be lost at sea. The sinking of the Cape Fear was one of a series of fatal fishing vessel accidents off the East Coast in a short period, which prompted investigations by the Coast Guard and the creation of a fishing vessel casualty task force to examine safety within the industry. An investigation into the sinking of the Cape Fear determined the cause to be downflooding from the following seas, combined with human factors related to the vessel's safety, stability, and seaworthiness. The investigation noted that the vessel was loaded with more cages of clams than specified in its stability manual and that a port aft clam hatch was left open. The families of both Steven Reeves and Paul Martin later filed lawsuits.Last Seen: Jan 8, 1999
