Unknown Sea Story lob sinks

[bvbellomo]

Of that $1,200, how much goes to food, crew salary, the boat, profit, port fees and taxes?

Suppose $200 is food, $200 crew salary, $400 boat, $200 profit, $200 port fees and taxes. Increasing crew and boat by 50% above the bare minimum to even set sail, and you aren't cutting any safety issues to save money. That puts you at $1500, which is still much cheaper than a comparable trip anywhere else in the world, and it doesn't even factor in the enormous losses the operator saves in both property and future business from preventing accidents.

I'd bet corners are being cut somewhere, but I don't think it is primarily to save money, at least not from a big picture perspective. I don't think regulations currently have a very good understanding of engineering safe boats. All of the new large tall boats being designed are very different from anything before, and as so many advertise, they are designed by scuba divers for scuba divers. I don't think safety has been a top priority for guests, operators, or crew. People are optimists, and people are lazy.

 

[nippurmagnum]

Of that $1,200, how much goes to food, crew salary, the boat, profit, port fees and taxes?

Suppose $200 is food, $200 crew salary, $400 boat, $200 profit, $200 port fees and taxes. Increasing crew and boat by 50% above the bare minimum to even set sail, and you aren't cutting any safety issues to save money. That puts you at $1500, which is still much cheaper than a comparable trip anywhere else in the world, and it doesn't even factor in the enormous losses the operator saves in both property and future business from preventing accidents.

I'd bet corners are being cut somewhere, but I don't think it is primarily to save money, at least not from a big picture perspective. I don't think regulations currently have a very good understanding of engineering safe boats. All of the new large tall boats being designed are very different from anything before, and as so many advertise, they are designed by scuba divers for scuba divers. I don't think safety has been a top priority for guests, operators, or crew. People are optimists, and people are lazy.

I agree. The owner of the Sea Story/Sea Legend/Tillis frequently spent many weeks diving on his own liveaboards, and his son was one of the dive guides. So all of the extensively documented sloppy safety on his boats was putting his family and himself at risk. For that matter, the owner once arranged for his own brother to give us a ride from Cairo to Hurghada. The brother’s car had horrendous brakes and a broken gas gauge, and he ran out of gas as we were approaching a gas station, so we had to get out and push the car up a slight hill to get to the pump. The brother just laughed it off.

 

[Bookworm11]

I am the exception in many, many ways. I am a lawyer, and I always think about risk and safety. I started diving later (at 64) and am very aware of the risks in diving just by itself, let alone by doing it on liveaboards or in cenotes.

 

[Searcaigh]

For that matter, the owner once arranged for his own brother to give us a ride from Cairo to Hurghada. The brother’s car had horrendous brakes and a broken gas gauge, and he ran out of gas as we were approaching a gas station, so we had to get out and push the car up a slight hill to get to the pump. The brother just laughed it off.

That about sums it up really, they don't care as long as hard currency is coming into the country.

I used to visit Egypt frequently on business trips until I retired. I could fill pages of some horrifying stuff I have encountered related to the medical field.

We used to have a joke when I worked in Saudi Arabia that there is no word for "maintenance" in Arabic.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Red Sea sinking: UK family 'desperate' as couple remain missing

The family of a couple missing after a tourist boat sank are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

www.bbc.com

 

[encarnizado]

It's important that this discussion continues.

Many survivors have united to comprehensively understand the events, support each other, and collectively process this traumatic experience. However, there is uncertainty about where to begin. At this point in time, the responsibility for this incident is far from clear. Given the complexity of the situation, further investigation will be essential to fully understand the events and circumstances surrounding this incident.

Anyone with relevant expertise or resources willing to contribute to understanding this incident is encouraged to reach out via PM. Any assistance, no matter how small, could make a meaningful difference.

Hi, please pass on to your friend - and to all of the survivors, and families of the deceased of this tragedy on the Sea Story - as a survivor of the 2019 Red Sea Aggressor I (aka MV Suzana) boat fire, I highly recommend EMDR therapy...it helped me a lot.... and I'm diving again off LOBs ...above deck

Will pass this on, thanks.

 

[Adr1an]

I don't think regulations currently have a very good understanding of engineering safe boats. All of the new large tall boats being designed are very different from anything before, and as so many advertise, they are designed by scuba divers for scuba divers. I don't think safety has been a top priority for guests, operators, or crew. People are optimists, and people are lazy.

It may very well be true that they were designed by scuba divers for scuba divers (see the details in other posts about the Dive Pro owner, his family etc ) but being a scuba diver (even a very competent one) does not make you a naval engineer, boat designer or even a seasoned sailor.
The problem may be exactly this: scuba divers had a heavy input in designing these boats and the result are ships very suitable for scuba diving but totally unsafe in rough seas, let alone in storms, rogue waves et.

 

[ontdiver]

I find it very hard to believe that (with minor exceptions for custom builds) divers have any meaningful input on the actual design of a LOB.

 

[Adr1an]

I find it very hard to believe that (with minor exceptions for custom builds) divers have any meaningful input on the actual design of a LOB.

Read the messages in this thread about the owner of Dive Pro:

The owner of the Sea Story/Sea Legend/Tillis frequently spent many weeks diving on his own liveaboards, and his son was one of the dive guides. So all of the extensively documented sloppy safety on his boats was putting his family and himself at risk.

I suppose it is crystal clear that someone ordering an expensive new boat specifically designed to be used as a LoB can have some input in the actual design.

 

[Dan]

...and Dan and I wanted to go to Sudan, that didn't work out, we went back to Malpelo instead.

Reviewing what kind of liveaboard you will be on is also important for your survival during rough sea or lost at sea. The boat we were on in Malpelo, Ferox, is not fancy like Sea Story, but functional. It’s low profile with only 2.5 decks. The half upper deck consists of a computer room & the bridge as shown, below.

About the boat from their website, Ferox & Vivax Liveaboards | Colombia Dive Adventures
“The Ferox and Vivax are not typical liveaboards. These former ice class Swedish Navy Ships (mine layers) are quite possibly the most robust liveaboards on the water. They have 11 mm steel hulls and have been put to the test during 7000 nautical mile voyages from Sweden to Colombia.

The ships are powered by twin Scania engines, reliable and environmentally friendly due to their low fuel consumption. Two generators ensure there is plenty of power aboard. There are few liveaboards in the world with their own waste-water treatment plant s(MSDs). The MSDs installed reflect our commitment to minimize impact to the marine environment. Extensive firefighting and lifesaving equipment can be found onboard including a fixed firefighting system for the engine space that can be operated remotely in a severe engine fire.”

Here’s Tony, the boat owner, talks about diver & boat safety:



Should we be lost at sea by strong current, they provide each of us a McMurdo S10 PAB for fast (immediate) rescue,