Fire on dive boat Conception in CA

[scorpiofish]

I would like to thank all the primary posters on this thread for all the pertinent facts, e.g. Captain Frank and Roakey, and all those others familiar with the boat. It really helps someone like me understand the issues. I've been on many liveaboards over the last 27 years, from barely functional to luxury, but I am not "mariner" in any sense of the word.

Also, Louisville Diver for putting the investigation to rest, having pointed out that the boat was deficient and allowed to be that way through collusion with Coast Guard Inspectors and an owner who values profit over safety. I do find it ironic that you site your new policy limitations on liveaboards, that happen to include those wonderfully safe boats in Indonesia. I recommend trying one of the Siren boats or maybe the Archipelago Adventurer.

The one question he did pose that ran through my head was who was the person on watch? Where were they standing? Bridge? What did they notice first, and when did the notice it? Who was the second person to be made aware? Where was the nearest fire extinguisher to the person on watch?

Where was the nearest fire extinguisher to the people below deck? How many were below deck? I did see one in the shower compartment in the video. What is the emergency call to passengers: 1) alarm, 2) bell, 3) screaming crew member?

As for victims drowning, best to wait for an actual autopsy.

 

[oncor23]

A supervised system was not required. Smoke detectors had to be in each berthing area, and in the galley, but did not have to be "supervised", which is a fire detection term for they they come in somewhere else or communicate with each other.

I assume you meant should as in "If I were king..." and not as if you are aware of the appropriate regulations...

Yes, If I were king, I order supervised smoke detectors throughout boats of this size.

 

[telemonster]

Yes, If I were king, I order supervised smoke detectors throughout boats of this size.

With emergency lighting that comes on when alarm is triggered, and maybe blinking illumination around egress points. Tech is cheap.

 

[ckubrick2]

Good afternoon everyone. I am very saddened and my heart goes to out to the divers lost, their families and first responder. I have been following this thread and I wonder if anyone has heard any piece of news a far as statements from the surviving crew members. Others have given public statements already, including the owners and the good Samaritan on the scene. I read on reddit that those are being kept quiet as "it's part of the ongoing criminal investigation". This statement confuses me a bit since I was of the understanding that this was an accident. Can anyone shed light on why would this be considered an "ongoing criminal Investigation", or at least on why would the crew members statements would not be made public?

 

[cerich]

With emergency lighting that comes on when alarm is triggered, and maybe blinking illumination around egress points. Tech is cheap.

sadly it's been a LONG time since regulations kept up with technology solutions.

 

[Diving Dubai]

IF a lithium battery was the initiation point, then I would place my money on either, a voltage surge from the generator damaging the charger, or (most likely) the wrong charger of a cheapo charger being used

Li Batteries and chargers remember, should conform to UL /CE and thus be safe.

Cheapo imported far East units may not actually conform (despite what is written on the packaging).

In UK there has been a few incident with phone or Vape machines catching fire, its always down to the fact the person has been using a "universal" charger brought online

Unfortunately most people think one USB charger is the same as another. They're not.

 

[cerich]

Good afternoon everyone. I am very saddened and my heart goes to out to the divers lost, their families and first responder. I have been following this thread and I wonder if anyone has heard any piece of news a far as statements from the surviving crew members. Others have given public statements already, including the owners and the good Samaritan on the scene. I read on reddit that those are being kept quiet as "it's part of the ongoing criminal investigation". This statement confuses me a bit since I was of the understanding that this was an accident. Can anyone shed light on why would this be considered an "ongoing criminal Investigation", or at least on why would the crew members statements would not be made public?

all accident investigations with deaths are criminal in nature until it is ruled out, normal

 

[USdiver1]

@ new guy ckubrick2,

Fueling speculation of an "ongoing criminal investigation" is premature and irresponsible at best so early on. Better to not incite such thought and let the NTSB investigators along with other professionals finish their jobs.

 

[KevinNM]

Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours

I don't think even that much is obvious yet. It may yet turn out that the fire grew so quickly no escape was possible regardless of the state of the exits, or it killed people before they woke up. I would be interested to know how long it takes to evacuate that cabin under various circumstances.

True. But at this this point I understand that the only allowed exit per USCG is vertically inside the same water-tight compartment. That seems to requires that the main and emergency exit for this boat must be inside the salon. There is also the question as to whether there should be requirement for a smoke barrier between the main berthing area and the rest of the boat.

I'll agree that it the entire boat end-to-end was in flames before anyone woke up neither of these would have likely changed the outcome, but I will still argue that running across 10 feet of burning deck into the ocean from the engine room door is a lot easier to survive than emerging into the furnace that was the salon and trying to make it to the ocean. And if you could evacuate horizontally into the engine room that would be possible.

 

[ckubrick2]

@ new guy ckubrick2,

Fueling speculation of an "ongoing criminal investigation" is premature and irresponsible at best so early on. Better to not incite such thought and let the NTSB investigators along with other professionals finish their jobs.

No speculation, as the other poster explained to me, it actually is an ongoing criminal investigation and completely normal. So im not worried about it now.