Unknown Sea Story lob sinks

[nippurmagnum]

I don't know anything about their credentials, but CDWS (referenced earlier in this thread IIRC) has a "blacklist" for dive operators: CDWS Blacklist

Perhaps someone with a marine safety background could get further details on CDWS criteria.

FWIW, the dive operator that owned the Sea Legend and the Sea Story (Dive Pro) is not on the blacklist. Two fatal accidents in two years, out of four boats. That’s a 50 percent fatal accident rate for their “fleet.”

 

[HalcyonDaze]

One issue is that while we can rate a good security briefing, and the general physical state and availability of safety measures, few of us are knowledgeable on the actual details. A good example is the height of these boats. They sure as well look unstable to me. But then again, so are modern cruiseships, which are substantially taller relative to their other dimensions. I don't know what makes or breaks such designs (and if Egyptian shipyards cut corners which could make such a design safe(r)).

That may be another area where user reports may come in; before the Vortex plowed into Socorro in 2022 we had at heast one poster report it felt unstable in a sea on a previous trip - said diving off of it was like "jumping off an F-14 doing a barrel roll." The ocean has a habit of exposing design flaws like that; you just hope it's a warning and not an immediate game over.

 

[ijdod]

@HalcyonDaze Yes, but my point was actually the question if we as laypersons are able to determine whether that swaying is abnormal.

 

[Nick_Radov]

If all divers did this every trip, the situation would likely improve.

Sure, but most of us don't even know what questions to ask. I mean I've been actively diving for over 20 years and have picked up a little bit just by riding on boats and paying attention. But I've never been a paid mariner, never served in the Navy / Coast Guard, never owned a boat. Boat safety isn't really covered in dive certification courses, not even the more advanced tech diving courses. Some of this stuff may seem obvious to those of you with more boating experience but it isn't obvious to me. I don't think I'm alone in my ignorance.

 

[nippurmagnum]

The owner of the Sea Story and the Sea Legend is now offering a 30 percent discount for January sailings of the Tillis, one of his two remaining boats. I would not sail on the Tillis again if it was free.

 

[Samdive]

It might feel out of place here, but here I go. As I mentioned here in earlier posts of this thread, I am booked to the Ocean Lovers LOB (north wrecks and brothers) from 7/12 to 14/12. I decided not to go, due to the events that are taking place now (despite having heard only good things about that Lob). I won’t get any refund. So if someone wants to go and take my place, I am willing to do a 60% discount. Just send me a private message. Once again I apologize if it sounds inconvenient. But you never know, someone might be interested.

 

[nekt]

I will do a trip report on the Ocean Lovers LOB when i'm back late December. If anyone has an suggestions for specific things they want in a trip report from a safety perspective let me know. Ill take photos of equipment etc on board as well.

For what its worth, maybe famous last words since im going on a LOB soon? Lot of folks here commenting on safety and its clear historically there is a few tragedies that are a result of fires or bad operation/management. In this case where it sunk from a wave, its all pure speculation on the idea that the boat was unstable or badly designed. Even taking the comment about 4m waves, or possibly a rogue wave that's could have been 1.5-2x larger than the average wave size. Those shorter boats people are commenting on would be rocked pretty hard too.

Just some simple math, 77 LOBs in Egypt are operating 52 weeks a year that's over 4000 cruises a year. While a loss of a boat or two is a tragedy and definitely needs to be factored into when planning a trip and hopefully the local government will legislate some changes. Statistically its still quite unlikely.....any could be me in 2 weeks knock on wood.

 

[Umuntu]

From my sailing experience in relatively small yachts in the European North Atlantic,heading bow on into the weather with a drogue behind the vessel is much safer than sailing with either beam to the weather.

To be capsized so quickly, Sea Story was likely beam to the weather.

A boat that’s “seaworthy” in calm seas isn’t necessarily seaworthy in heavy weather. And negotiating heavy weather requires skills that are different from fair weather navigation.

 

[bakodiver391]

The Yacht Report youtube video raises a good point. For those saying they don't know enough about ship design to have an opinion about stability, look for an international ship standard to which the vessel has been built. This standard will include stability calculations and actual tests with weights suspended over the side to measure heeling. None of these Egyptian vessels are built to an international standard. I suspect that they just "grew like Topsy", where a local yard started with relatively simple boat construction, then the market dictated that they build larger boats and stacked decks to the sky to improve profitabilty. They look like flash superyachts but they are really local timber built boats with a nice finish.

 

[O-ring]

eSysman just dropped an update video..