Fire on safari boat Suzana in Egypt (Red Sea Aggressor)

[scubadada]

Thanks @Antho

Wow, was on this boat for 2 weeks in 2016, really hits home

 

[DandyDon]

On Thursday (Oct 31) night, at approx 00:30am we were waken up by the smoke in our cabin (no fire alarm). Fire was already well advanced.

I have a Sensorcon CO alarm that's clipped to my cargo pocket everywhere, why not since leaving it on 24/7 doesn't affect 2 year life before service, and I really like it for anywhere I sleep as most hotels don't have CO alarms in rooms, but I am thinking a smoke alarm would be a cheap & easy device for all travel as well. Found this battery powered combo unit on sale for $17, easy & lightweight in packed bag: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sale-War...1-manufacture-2-Detector-Alarm-Gas-/828081217

The crew was sleeping above passengers’ cabins, so we woke most of them up.

So no crew member was on firewatch...?!

It is not true that the American woman went back to get her laptop. No one on the boat said that. She did not even have a laptop with her on the boat.

Seems like a what-if rumor got started and repeated. Sad loss.

We then had to jump into the water without life jackets because flames were already too big.

No life vests in rooms...?!

We are still in Egypt as we all lost our passeport.

I guess you lost everything. I do hope that you are receiving support & help from the boat owner & embassies.

Thank you so much for your personal report. Sad tragedy to endure. Wishing you the best.

 

[Mike Walker]

I was on that boat last year as well... and was contemplating another booking for the spring on it or RSA2...

There were definitely some smoke detectors (you can see them in the marketing pics) - whether they were working or not is another question I suppose. I recall the room corridor being open to the saloon via the stairway so smoke anywhere affecting the interior cabins should have easily triggered the two in the saloon. Of course hearing alarms in a common area from in the cabins would be very tough I suspect if the system was not interconnected.

It does bother me that a centrally monitored fire alarm system is not mandatory for any boat with people sleeping on board. I recall the briefing on the Aquacat specifically mentioned that their system did monitor from a panel on the bridge.

I'm fairly certain life vests were in rooms (but this has always bothered me as one would likely go to investigate first without grabbing it and potentially get blocked from going back).

Other than getting a nasty stomach bug half way through (17 days to recover), that trip was good and the boat seemed to be in good condition.

It will be interesting to hear more details.

[EDIT: Just took a look at the MY Royal Evolution which is the main reason I'll be in that area in the spring. Saloon and all cabins are fully sprinklered plus smoke detector and fire extinguisher in each room. I suspect these sort of things will start showing up on more and more marketing materials.]

 

[kelemvor]

There are a lot of boats on the Red Sea. There are a lot of options out there given the competitive pricing. Pick carefully. Not all are created equal. Ask them about safety equipment and when they last did an overhaul on the boat, including electrical if it’s an older boat.

They seem to have a better recent track record than our (American) dive boats when it comes to fire safety...

 

[ReefHound]

They seem to have a better recent track record than our (American) dive boats when it comes to fire safety...

You're basing that on a sample size of 1?

 

[kelemvor]

You're basing that on a sample size of 1?

It's not like they happen every day.

Recent livaboard fire in US = all but one dead. Recent livaboard fire in Egypt = all but one alive.

 

[outofofficebrb]

It's not like they happen every day.

Recent livaboard fire in US = all but one dead. Recent livaboard fire in Egypt = all but one alive.

There have been a few fires on dive boats/liveaboards that have completely sunken boats in the Red Sea in the past few years. It stays relatively hush hush and usually not into mainstream media. It stays hush hush as it also isn’t good for business or reputation for the area in general. That goes for all liveaboards that I have known to go down to fire or running aground in many places. Deaths or not, the fact that it is even happening is a problem. Acceptable fire safety shouldn’t be a relative thing to another place or defined by the number of deaths or survivors, USA or not; it should be an absolute - no fire is best. With that said, no liveaboard I know of in the Red Sea or any country that I’ve had the privilege of being in on liveaboard outside of the US packed their boats the way the Conception did and with so few crew members relative to guests.

I still stand by my thoughts that there are a lot of boats on the Red Sea and one should be careful in picking their boats. There are a lot of options that are competitively priced and being aware of what you are signing up for is really important.

 

[Trailboss123]

I have a deposit down on the Red Sea Aggressor I for next June. In light of events and the fact that the boat doesn't exist anymore, I have shot off an e-mail to Aggressor requesting a refund of my deposit.

 

[Bob DBF]

With that said, no liveaboard I know of in the Red Sea or any country that I’ve had the privilege of being in on liveaboard outside of the US packed their boats the way the Conception did and with so few crew members relative to guests.

The CA "liveaboards" are the seagoing version of cramming a van full of divers and gear and going to the coast and diving. It was never ment to be a luxery liveaboard experience. It is similar to the wreck diving boats of the east coast, even though you may live aboard for a few days, it's about the diving not the amenities. I think the cold water and unpredictable conditions, among other things, make real liveaboards financially impossible here.



Bob

 

[scubajasonr]

Antho, thanks for taking the time to post an update at what must be a stressful time, I hope you get everything sorted and get home safely. Condolences to the family of the lady who lost her life.

Suzanna 1 was the first liveaboard I went on, probably 15 or more years ago now and I still back at that trip with fond memories.