The captain of the California dive boat that caught fire and sank near Santa Barbara, killing 33 passengers and one crew member in 2019, was sentenced Thursday to four years in federal prison.

Jerry Nehl Boylan, 70, was found guilty in November of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer, also known seamans manslaughter, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. In handing down the lighter sentence, U.S. District Judge George Wu said he found Boylan incredibly remorseful, the Los Angeles Times reported , calling it one of the most difficult sentencings Ive ever done.

Boylan was the first to abandon ship and jump overboard after the fire broke out on the Conception, a 75-foot dive boat, in the early hours of Sept. 2, 2019. Four crew members who jumped in the water also survived. All 33 passengers, who were on the vessel for a Labor Day weekend scuba diving excursion, were killed.