Fire on dive boat Conception in CA

[Akimbo]

First responders to arrive were from Ventura FD, I believe.

How is it possible to get there in 15 minutes? Surely a city fire department wouldn't have a fire boat stationed an hour boat ride offshore... much longer than that from Ventura.

Here is a Google Maps link that shows Platt Harbor and the US Coast Guard Station, Channel Islands. Ventura and Santa Barbara are to the north.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

This summary updated 14 Sept 2019 Updates are also posted on page one of this thread. Please follow links and read surrounding posts to keep up to date.

It is always best to read an entire thread before commenting. Due to the length of this one we are providing & updating this summary for topics covered. We believe this information is credible but it can not be established as proven facts prior to completion of the investigation.

Please be kind when you post here remember the special rules and consider families, friends and survivors who are reading this. Consider Accidents and Incident Threads: Victim Perspective

We can not determine the cause here but discussing possibilities may help to prevent future tragedies.

34 Casualties DNA identified

• SB Sheriff Brown (Coroner) states probable COD smoke inhalation
• last victim found 11 Sept

Conception compliant met or exceeded applicable USCG requirements on last inspection implies approved; fire alarms, fire fighting equipment and escape routes

• Grandfathered for inspection requirements. Discussion here
• USCG issue Safety Information Bulletin 10 Sept 2019
  
• Certificate of Inspection here

NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) Preliminary Report
Preliminary Report: Marine DCA19MM047
Discussion points

• concludes all crew sleeping
• Statement in Preliminary Report says it may contain errors

Anchor Watch

• Captain's responsibilities
  
• Regulations
  
• Anchor watch process discussion
• People from prior trips reported meeting the "watchman" at various times during night

Rough time line as reported

• night dive time? commonly done by passengers; NO night dive by Crew
  
• 2:30 crew member finished up in the galley verified heating elements were out and cold etc. Then went upstairs to bed. Not indicated if this was the designated Anchor Watch see
  
• Between 3 and 3:14, a crew member awoke hearing a bang. He attempted to go down to investigate but stairs already afire.
• 5 crew were in the wheelhouse two levels above the berth area. 1 crew member in the berth below did not survive.
• crew jumped to deck, one broke leg other undisclosed ankle injuries
• Captain first Mayday from Bridge documented 3:14
• crew tried to reach the passengers from aft passage into the salon/galley then via forward front windows
  
• forced from the boat by the fire some swam aft to the dingy & brought it alongside to rescue injured crew
  
• sought help from nearby vessel Grape Escape Another Mayday call.

Most suspected causes of fire discussed

• charging batteries either in the Galley or possibly berth area
• Dept of Fire Protection Engineering, U of Maryland video
  
• electrical fires are often a factor
  
• boat fires DO burn quickly
• electrical wiring faults inside walls can smolder for hours before bursting into flame
• Boat USA Foundation boat fire video

Battery discussions here

Original location of fire not yet established

• former owner believes it started in passenger berth area
• some believe it started in galley/salon area

Conception's layout and facilities

• all electric no propane or other fuel used for cooking
• Nitrox = Nuvair Membrane
• NO banked Oxygen
• all O2 First aid tanks or stage bottles were aft (last to burn)
• Conception Safety Video link
  
• Post fire picture
• News footage raising the Conception

Exits from Dorm

• main exit - stairs to starboard forward end of the dorm to the galley/salon.
• emergency hatch above bunks at aft end of dorm exited in aft portion of the salon, just inside the passageway to the after deck.
• no locked doors to the galley, salon or berth area.

The design of berth area and escape hatches discussed extensively. It meets current USCG standards which many believe may be changed as a result of this tragedy.

Excellent DAN article Mental Health post incident

Google Map link that shows Platt Harbor and the US Coast Guard Station, Channel Islands. Ventura and Santa Barbara are to the north

Related threads

A personal perspective on California Live-aboards
Discussion of legal aspects here
Condolences posted here
Donations here

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[edm81363]

Hi Folks -

I'm a professional seafarer - I work in areas so remote that the astronauts on the International Space Station are frequently the closest humans to us. This whole notion that passengers on a dive boat could quickly cut an egress in the side of a small vessel is ridiculous on face value. Let's put that idea to rest and move on to more productive conversations. It would take a shipyard an entire day to make an exit point like that on a vessel - and that's using skilled laborers with plans drawn up in advance.

For reference, here's an image of our current track.

- Ed

 

[JohnnyC]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

This summary has been updated 12 Sept 2019 Updates are also posted on page one of this thread. Please follow links and read surrounding posts to keep up to date.

It is always best to read an entire thread before commenting. Due to the length of this one we are providing and updating this summary for topics already covered. We believe this information is credible but it can not be established as proven facts prior to completion of the investigation.

Please be kind when you post here remember the special rules and consider families, friends and survivors who are reading this. Consider Accidents and Incident Threads: Victim Perspective

We can not determine the cause of this event here. Discussing possibilities may help to prevent future tragedies.

34 Casualties Partial List

• 4 bodies were found floating shortly after the sinking
  
• All bodies will be identified by DNA
• SB Sheriff Brown (Coroner) states probable COD smoke inhalation
• Search resumed for missing casualty
• last victim found 11 Sept

Conception compliant with (met or exceeded) applicable USCG requirements on her last inspection implies approved

• fire alarms
• fire fighting equipment
• escape routes met current standards
• Grandfathered for inspection requirements. Discussion here
• USCG issued warning dated 10 Sept 2019

Anchor Watch

• normally posted in the wheelhouse
• Regulations discussion
• Anchor watch process discussion
• People from prior trips reported meeting the "watchman" at various times during night

Rough time line as reported

• night dive time? commonly done by passengers; NO night dive by Crew
  
• 2:30 crew member finished up in the galley verified heating elements were out and cold etc. Then went upstairs to bed. Not indicated if this was the designated Anchor Watch see
  
• Between 3 and 3:14, a crew member awoke hearing a bang. He attempted to go down to investigate but stairs already afire.
• 5 crew were in the wheelhouse two levels above the berth area. 1 crew member in the berth below did not survive.
• crew jumped to deck, one broke leg other undisclosed ankle injuries
• Captain first Mayday from Bridge documented 3:14
• crew tried to reach the passengers from aft passage into the salon/galley then via forward front windows
  
• forced from the boat by the fire some swam aft to the dingy & brought it alongside to rescue injured crew
  
• Captain last to leave smoke around him crew thought he was on fire
• sought help from nearby vessel Grape Escape Another Mayday call. The calls have been linked together causing confusion
  
• Captain returned to look for others with no success.

Most suspected causes of fire discussed

• charging batteries either in the Galley or possibly berth area
• electrical fires are often a factor
  
• boat fires DO burn quickly
• electrical wiring faults inside walls can smolder for hours before bursting into flame

Note due to extensive discussions on battery fires
Please post battery discussions
Tough love for the industry's lithium addiction

Original location of fire not yet established

• former owner and commissioner of the boat believes it started in passenger berth area
• some believe it started in galley/salon area

Conception's layout and facilities

• all electric (no propane or other fuel used for cooking)
• Nitrox = Nuvair Membrane
• NO banked Oxygen
• all O2 First aid tanks or stage bottles were aft (last to burn)

Exits from Dorm met USCG regulations

• main exit - stairs to starboard forward end of the berthing area to the galley/salon.
• emergency hatch above bunks at aft end of compartment exited in aft portion of the salon, just inside the passageway to the after deck.
• no locked doors to the galley, salon or berth area.

The design of berth area and escape hatches have been discussed extensively. It meets current USCG standards which many believe may be changed as a result of this tragedy.


The above topics have discussed extensively. Please refer back in the thread using links for those discussions. Posts around the links will give additional information.

Geographic Reference: Google Map link that shows Platt Harbor and the US Coast Guard Station, Channel Islands. Ventura and Santa Barbara are to the north

Related threads
A personal perspective on California Live-aboards
Discussion of legal aspects here
Condolences posted here
Donations here

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@Ken Kurtis has stated unequivocally (3 or 4 pages back) that the crew did not have their own night dive prior to the fire. As a source I see no reason to disbelieve him as all of his information appears to be from directly connected firsthand sources. Perhaps the “night dive” section should be amended to reflect that.[/MOD]

 

[HalcyonDaze]

Hi Folks -

I'm a professional seafarer - I work in areas so remote that the astronauts on the International Space Station are frequently the closest humans to us. This whole notion that passengers on a dive boat could quickly cut an egress in the side of a small vessel is ridiculous on face value. Let's put that idea to rest and move on to more productive conversations. It would take a shipyard an entire day to make an exit point like that on a vessel - and that's using skilled laborers with plans drawn up in advance.

For reference, here's an image of our current track.

- Ed

More to the point, a vessel with spots in its hull that could be quickly cut through with a battery-powered hand tool is going to have potential locations for a good knock from the outside or even normal hull stress to cause cracks and breaches.

I enjoyed that article, it's an interesting insight into how California diving community dives. Very informing and encouraging that we, as divers, always find a way to dive, regardless of the geographical location.

The bit I was more interested in was the account at the end of a liveaboard being filled with smoke within 10 seconds of an "explosion" and then burning to the waterline. I wonder if that incident was investigated and what the circumstances were (size of vessel, number of passengers, crew and passengers awake versus asleep, etc.).

 

[lexvil]

I'm more thinking that on the liveaboards I've done, we racked up four dives per day. I sure as hell wouldn't volunteer to cut that to one or two so I can sit up with a fire extinguisher all night.

Moving on, it seems a few of our regulars had a word with the San Francisco Chronicle; what intrigues me is the incident mentioned at the very end: After fire, divers worry that burst of regulations will restrain free-spirited sport

This is a good article, I’m glad the journalist met up with people who get it.

 

[cerich]

More to the point, a vessel with spots in its hull that could be quickly cut through with a battery-powered hand tool is going to have potential locations for a good knock from the outside or even normal hull stress to cause cracks and breaches.
.).

ever check out the hull thickness on a pro 42.. just saying

 

[lexvil]

More to the point, a vessel with spots in its hull that could be quickly cut through with a battery-powered hand tool is going to have potential locations for a good knock from the outside or even normal hull stress to cause cracks and breaches.



The bit I was more interested in was the account at the end of a liveaboard being filled with smoke within 10 seconds of an "explosion" and then burning to the waterline. I wonder if that incident was investigated and what the circumstances were (size of vessel, number of passengers, crew and passengers awake versus asleep, etc.).

It does point out how fast things move once it starts, I doubt there was much of an investigation. The boat I was on this last March had berthing one each level and mine was below the mail deck, there was a dogged down escape hatch in those cabins which would have much harder to use than the conception the way it was laid out.

 

[JackD342]

ever check out the hull thickness on a pro 42.. just saying

For those of us that haven't checked a hull's thickness, and have no idea, perhaps you could say more...

 

[cerich]

For those of us that haven't checked a hull's thickness, and have no idea, perhaps you could say more...

Sorry, it was sarcasm from the perspective of someone that has skippered one. The Pro 42 is a jet drive 42 ft vessel designed as a day trip dive boat. Hundreds of them in use in resort areas, the hull is noticably thin compared to most vessels of its size. Because as skipppers we often do the maintenance, it's just something that anyone who has skippered them will know. In fact, funny story, in Cuba they made a pro 42 knockoff but did a thick Hill and they are very slow and sit about 2 ft lower because of the weight.