Executive Summary
- Chilean prosecutors will charge three crew members of the PAM Cobra with negligent homicide.
- The charges relate to the March 30 disappearance and presumed death of the Bruma crew.
- The captain and two other crew members on duty in the navigation bridge face prosecution.
- Authorities are attributing the fatal incident to negligence on the part of the larger vessel’s crew.
Chilean prosecutors have announced plans to formally charge three crew members of the fishing vessel PAM Cobra, including the ship’s captain, with negligent homicide. The pending charges stem from a fatal maritime incident that occurred on March 30, resulting in the disappearance and presumed death of the crew aboard the fishing boat Bruma.
According to reports from Bio Bio Chile, the individuals facing prosecution were on duty in the navigation bridge at the time of the incident. Authorities allege that specific actions or failures by the PAM Cobra bridge crew contributed directly to the loss of the Bruma and its personnel. The investigation has focused on establishing the chain of events leading to the suspected collision.
Judicial Next Steps
This development marks a significant shift in the investigation, moving from a general maritime inquiry to specific criminal accountability for the vessel’s command staff. The formalization of charges indicates that prosecutors believe there is sufficient evidence to prove a direct link between the bridge crew’s conduct and the fatal event. As the case proceeds, the legal focus will likely center on navigation logs, radar data, and adherence to international maritime safety protocols. It is important to note that all individuals named in the investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
