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Tragic Dive boat fire in California

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by PacBlue, Sep 2, 2019.

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  1. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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  2. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    looks like a bad one.

    https://www.foxnews.com/us/people-killed-boat-fire-california-santa-cruz-island

    As many a 30 missing. I looked up the boat, the Conception our of Santa Barbara. 70 steel hull dive boat with one large crowded bunk room capable of housing 46 divers and apparently only one exit...

    Latest report said the boat sank. The 5 crew members who survived were sleeping on the main deck.

    Going to be an interesting accident report. Smoke detectors? Alarms? How could USCG certify the vessel without adequate emergency exits!
  3. GhostriderIII

    GhostriderIII Senior Member

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  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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  5. Scott W

    Scott W Senior Member

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    Absolutely horrific. Thoughts and prayers to the missing and their families.

    What kind of commercial classification code allows 34 people to sleep on a 70' charter craft? I thought the limit was (generally) 12 sleeping passengers.
  6. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    The berth arrangements are well within the USCG inspected passenger vessel rules for this type of service. The tough part is the main passageway led to the galley, a potential source of the fire/explosion. Plus there must be an alternate escape location, even if it is a hatch in a closet or whatever. The investigation will certainly require rule changes.
  7. RER

    RER Senior Member

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  8. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Actually a search shows it was a steel hull but what looks like a wood superstructure
  9. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Search all you want. It's wood.
  10. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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  11. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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  12. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    ONE egress into a galley? Yup, Pascal called it, a death trap. If it was wood maybe they could have fought their way out.... who knows....
  13. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    There would be a second egress in the cabins below, probably a hatch, but after reading I believe both were useless as you would be egressing into a flaming inferno. Fire would be put out and re-ignite once help arrived, never could get it under control.

    A perfect storm of disastrous events for these unfortunate passengers onboard.
  14. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    From another forum, source unconfirmed:
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Think I read the crew was on deck and in the wheelhouse area, then suddenly discovered a blaze.
    Sadly, the sleepers below may have been deprived of O2 (CO or toxic smoke) for some time.
  16. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    The NTSB is meeting with each crew member collecting statements/information, details are hard to come by at the moment , maybe start to get some clarification soon.
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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  18. Lepke

    Lepke Member

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    With 5 crew, they should have had an anchor watch. Unless I solo, I always have a watch. No excuse for a passenger boat.
  19. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    That is certainly the key issue under review.
    Rethinking all my charging cords for battery devices in the household, no more overnight charging in bedrooms for me.
  20. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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