Fire on dive boat Conception in CA

[diverrex]

Thank you all for the replies. Yes I get it now. The double door reference appears to be just that. But I still find it odd that it is referenced at all. Why would a crewman say that? I have looked at all the vids I can find. It appears to be a open passage way to the back deck. Yet the doors are there and operational per posters here.

Read the article again. That was said by Jennifer Homendy from the NTSB as her recounting what a crew member said. Nothing says it was a direct quote by the crew member. Maybe he said “Double doorway”, maybe he said something like “where those double doors are”. We don’t know exactly what the crew member said. Too many people are reading these articles and taking pieces out and making a big deal of it without having the whole story. Read the article again. Almost all of it comes from unnamed sources. You guys can speculate all you want, just realize you are just speculating. You don’t have the story, you don’t have the facts. These are news articles not transcripts from depositions or court testimony.

 

[Somesbar]

Read the article again. That was said by Jennifer Homendy from the NTSB as her recounting what a crew member said. Nothing says it was a direct quote by the crew member. Maybe he said “Double doorway”, maybe he said something like “where those double doors are”. We don’t know exactly what the crew member said. Too many people are reading these articles and taking pieces out and making a big deal of it without having the whole story. Read the article again. Almost all of it comes from unnamed sources. You guys can speculate all you want, just realize you are just speculating. You don’t have the story, you don’t have the facts.

You are very right. I have fished on these boats my whole life. I like everyone wish we had answers right now. I could not sleep Monday night because of this. I have taken very large groups of fellow friends and employees on fishing trips on this very kind of boat. I am just like everyone else here. It hurts me to tears!!! I don't give a rip about me but I can't save my daughters!!! Think about that yes I am sure you all have. Sorry. It rips me apart!! Sorry folks.

 

[KevinNM]

There are other sensors like heat detectors that can trigger on rate of heat change.
Smoke detection isn't the only option.

There was a heat detector. A failed gallery heat detector was found on the last Coast Guard inspection and was replaced and retested by the Coast Guard.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

An awake fire/anchor watch or working smoke / fire alarms can make a big difference in an event like this. I cannot speak to the issue of the fire-watch being awake..... but some reports indicate that all the crew member survivors were in underwear. Not something you would think that that a required roving fire / anchor watch would be wearing in less than 60F temps at 0330.

Also, NTSB J Hornendy states in this report that an inspection of the sistership…..Vision... revealed that "smoke alarms were not connected throughout the boat".. If this is accurate, then it's probably not out of bounds to assume that similar conditions existed on the Conception.

I am heartbroken and sick for the loss of these people and for their families. But I am also being honest about how I feel about preventative procedures or equipment that could of and should of been in place.

Crew members of doomed diving boat tell investigators they tried to save passengers

 

[USdiver1]

While neither a marine engineer or naval architect, I did spend last night at a Holiday Inn....Seeing that there were no portholes in the berth deck, yet assuming that at least part of it was above the waterline, would it be practicable to create an escape hatch in the hull [above the water line] that operated through a system of explosive bolts that could only be activated [manually] when a fire suppression system or fire alarm were activated? The hatch could be built flush with the exterior of the hull, with a reinforced interior frame, and would be an escape hatch of last resort.

 

[cerich]

While neither a marine engineer or naval architect, I did spend last night at a Holiday Inn....Seeing that there were no portholes in the berth deck, yet assuming that at least part of it was above the waterline, would it be practicable to create an escape hatch in the hull [above the water line] that operated through a system of explosive bolts that could only be activated [manually] when a fire suppression system or fire alarm were activated? The hatch could be built flush with the exterior of the hull, with a reinforced interior frame, and would be an escape hatch of last resort.

No, fire can happen in rough seas as well, that would sink the boat and people would drown. Non Solas, non military vessels don't have enough watertight integrity to have holes blown in sides.

 

[Wookie]

I'm just trying to picture the whole inspection process. An officer comes aboard, goes through the checklist of things in painstaking and thorough manner, as some posters pointed out. Reaches the part where it says there must be at least two exists "sufficient for rapid evacuation in an emergency for the number of persons served (§ 177.500.(d))", and allowing "easy movement of persons when wearing life jackets (§ 177.500.(e))". He/she looks at the hatch, that's difficult enough to use even for a person already sitting in that top bunk without any darn life jacket, looks at the maze of bunks in berthing quarters more crowded than anything I've ever seen aboard any vessel except for maybe early WWII submarines, and somehow in his/her mind concludes, sure, I totally see how you can easily move 46 untrained, unprepared persons in life jackets through that pretty rapidly. And here is my signature to go with that conclusion.

I feel nothing but anger when I picture this. In my opinion, personal accountability for that decision must come into play big time.

This is the official T-Boat inspection checklist for your perusal. And it’s exactly as you say, the inspecting officer (and 2 or 3 minions) shows up. The crew goes with the minions and the master stays with the officer.
https://homeport.uscg.mil/Lists/Content/Attachments/1150/CG-840 2011_2.pdf

 

[HalcyonDaze]

No, fire can happen in rough seas as well, that would sink the boat and people would drown. Non Solas, non military vessels don't have enough watertight integrity to have holes blown in sides.

Also, I'm sure the USCG would have a field day with putting anything explosive into the hull and making sure it doesn't just go bang on its own.

 

[loosenit2]

Conception Live-Aboard Tragedy: Interview with Truth Aquatics Owner - DiveNewswire

 

[Wookie]

So my suggestion is that the boats should have a dedicated main deck watch who walks the main deck at night and is in the salon when not walking around. We now know (at a sadly high price) that the salon must be clear for any evacuation from the sleeping quarters. This is in addition to any night/anchor watch since that is primarily done from the bridge deck. Maybe the main deck watch will periodically check the bunk area.

Even if the main deck watch dozes off, at least he/she is in the salon and likely to be awakened by anything that happens in that area.

If that means adding another crewmember and raising the per day price accordingly, I think it's a good investment in safety.

The design of conception is not always like other boats. On my boat, for instance, you could see the entire salon/Galley/out on the main deck from the captains chair. These types of situations need a one size fits all solution.

There is some wording about one watch on each deck. I’ve never seen it enforced, we used cctv cameras to see the sundeck and engineroom from the operating station. Our OCMI bought it as an equivalency.