What Happened To The Northwestern?

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Perhaps the most notable incident to happen on the F/V Northwestern took place in 2020 while the "Deadliest Catch" crew were operating under COVID-19 protocols mandated by the show's producers, Original Productions, Inc. and Discovery. At that time, long-time Northwestern crew member, Nick Mavar Jr., experienced a ruptured appendix onboard the boat, revealing a cancerous tumor and causing serious complications.

Mavar Jr. filed a lawsuit against the Hansen family, which in turn brought a lawsuit against the show's production company for the cost of Mavar Jr.'s treatment. According to Mavar Jr., Washington state-based Hansen Family Inc., which legally owns the boat, should have been better prepared for potential medical emergencies during the pandemic. Hansen Family Inc.'s legal representation then said that Mavar Jr. could have received adequate medical attention if not for pandemic-related restrictions put in place by producers.

According to the Hansen Family Inc. legal team (via Alaska Public Media), "These COVID protocols limited the exposure of the F/V Northwestern crew members to people who were not associated with the television show," including medical personnel. Mavar Jr.'s lawsuit was for $1 million in damages. Hansen Family Inc. claimed Discovery and Original Productions were liable, instead.

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