Survivors Sue StarKist Parent Firm Over Drowning

The parent company of StarKist Tuna is being sued by the family of a man who drowned aboard a company fishing boat three years ago.

Pacific Daily News reports the family of chief engineer Chang Cheol Yang sued last week in U.S. District Court of Guam.

The lawsuit claims Dongwon Industries allowed the purse seiner Majestic Blue to sail in May 2010 despite faulty repairs at a China shipyard.

The lawsuit also says an inexperienced crew had problems communicating with the vessel’s U.S. skipper, who also died as the vessel sank June 14, 2010, in calm water

Twenty-two crew members escaped in a skiff as Hill and Yang headed for the engine room just before the vessel tilted and sank.

Hill’s widow has also sued.