Deadly onboard fire

[MapisM]

Early this morning, a Maiora 22 moored was destroyed by flames, sadly killing 3 of the 4 people onboard - two German couples, of which only one lady managed to escape through a porthole, while the other three remained trapped.
Reasons are being investigated, but there are rumours (allegedly based on what the survivor has been able to tell) of a short circuit in an electrical heater.
Take care, folks.
And of course RIP to those poor souls.

 

[[2068]]

 

[rafiki_]

Dreadful news. Condolences to family and friends.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thats really terrible news. A salutary lesson for us all

 

[No Regrets]

Terrible :nonchalance:

As you say. A lesson which hopefully will save others.

 

[Portofino]

Often wondered with most mid cabin FB layouts where the 2nd exit is ? --no deck opening skylights .
Also ample ,handy fire extinguishers ---kept in date ? -that's one latent advantage of buying a boat built to a "classification " -stuff designed - in the background out of sight -like dual exists to each space even the E room .
Sad all the same --

 

[Seastoke]

in the uk 16amp is not enough more most boats ,over the winter peeps should check that both ends of their leads are not welded in ,and even do a small calc on what usage they are using at anyone time,roy

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Often wondered with most mid cabin FB layouts where the 2nd exit is ? --no deck opening skylights .

Yup very good point. I have often sat in the midships master cabin of our boat and wondered how we'd get out in the event of a fire in the forward part of the accommodation. Maybe a good argument for a forward or aft master cabin with an overhead hatch?

 

[[2068]]

I have tested leaving via the forward hatch, and it's tight for me, although possible.
From the mid cabin ... where would I go ?? The only option would be to run through the flames.
Condolences to the families involved.

 

[petem]

I wonder if a couple of £10 smoke detectors would have given them ample time to escape.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I wonder if a couple of £10 smoke detectors would have given them ample time to escape.

I agree entirely.
But of the two (land-based/domestic) fires I have been in, the first I had enough time to run out; the second had me gasping for breath as if the thin smoke had paralysed my throat. Within three seconds in the kitchen I was flat on the floor where fortunately there was still some uncontaminated air.

In the boat in this instance if similar to my second experience no amount of smoke alarms would have saved them.

Absolutely tragic. Fire, and cold steel, must surely be the most terrible ways to die.

I hope the lady survivor can put her life back together.

P.S. The thin smoke was coming from a smouldering oven-glove left on top of the high-level grill - which had not been turned completely off.

 

[Pinnacle]

RIP to those who lost their lives. Condolences to the families. All very tragic.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Often wondered with most mid cabin FB layouts where the 2nd exit is ? --no deck opening skylights .
Also ample ,handy fire extinguishers ---kept in date ? -that's one latent advantage of buying a boat built to a "classification " -stuff designed - in the background out of sight -like dual exists to each space even the E room .
Sad all the same --

Yes sad news indeed.

As for what you say, I know the Azimut 55 had an escape route on the ceiling (hatch) which took you on the main deck to the dinette (opposite the galley).
I think at the time Italian builds used to be RINA approved unlike CE as at today. Even laminate had to be up to there standards for thickness and type.

Anyways happy new 2017 to the forum.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

As for what you say, I know the Azimut 55 had an escape route on the ceiling (hatch) which took you on the main deck to the dinette (opposite the galley).
I think at the time Italian builds used to be RINA approved unlike CE as at today. Even laminate had to be up to there standards for thickness and type.
.

Thanks PYB and happy new year to you too. Given the fact that the RCD has an awful lot to say about safety, you have to ask why apparently there is no requirement for boat builders to consider alternative means of escape from all cabins

 

[Whitelighter]

Because the RCD is actually more about protectionism rather than safety.
Having put new boats through the RCD process for EU built boats it's fill in a form and decide how big a cheque you want to write.
The wave height/wind force rating is utter bollox and stability tests are rudenebtary at best.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Because the RCD is actually more about protectionism rather than safety.
.

I have experience of CE certification in my own industry and I would say exactly the opposite to the above. Prior to CE certification, every country had its own product standards and some countries used those products standards to protect their own manufacturers. No prizes for guessing that France was the master at manipulating their own standards for this purpose. When CE certification came along, all this parochial protectionism was swept away and Europe genuinely became a level playing field for all manufacturers. I'm no expert on the RCD but again referring to my own industry there is a strong manufacturer input into the EN standards which apply to machinery sold in my industry so that means that the requirements of those standards tend to be sensible and workable. So I would be surprised if the RCD didn't also have a big input from boat builders and have sensible and workable requirements as a result, even though there doesn't seem to be any specific requirements for escape hatches from sleeping cabins

 

[MapisM]

Yes sad news indeed.

As for what you say, I know the Azimut 55 had an escape route on the ceiling (hatch) which took you on the main deck to the dinette (opposite the galley).
I think at the time Italian builds used to be RINA approved unlike CE as at today. Even laminate had to be up to there standards for thickness and type.

Anyways happy new 2017 to the forum.

Happy 2017 to U 2, W.
But are you sure to have seen such arrangement on the AZ55?
If there's a hatch anywhere in the ceiling, they did a great job to hide it (see first pic below) - which defies its purpose, to some extent...
And also in the dinette above the master cabin, the parquet floor (second pic) doesn't seem to have any hatches - as well as another one I've seen with carpet, in fact.

 

[rafiki_]

I have experience of CE certification in my own industry and I would say exactly the opposite to the above. Prior to CE certification, every country had its own product standards and some countries used those products standards to protect their own manufacturers. No prizes for guessing that France was the master at manipulating their own standards for this purpose. When CE certification came along, all this parochial protectionism was swept away and Europe genuinely became a level playing field for all manufacturers. I'm no expert on the RCD but again referring to my own industry there is a strong manufacturer input into the EN standards which apply to machinery sold in my industry so that means that the requirements of those standards tend to be sensible and workable. So I would be surprised if the RCD didn't also have a big input from boat builders and have sensible and workable requirements as a result, even though there doesn't seem to be any specific requirements for escape hatches from sleeping cabins

Agreed Mike. The BMF will gave a considerable input into BEIS which administers the RCD for the UK. BEIS officials will meet their oppos in the Eu on a regular basis to discuss the regs and future changes. As you rightly say, this is one of the bits of Eu reg, like most of the automotive ones that have been good for Eu trade, creating a level playing field.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Happy 2017 to U 2, W.
But are you sure to have seen such arrangement on the AZ55?
If there's a hatch anywhere in the ceiling, they did a great job to hide it (see first pic below) - which defies its purpose, to some extent...
And also in the dinette above the master cabin, the parquet floor (second pic) doesn't seem to have any hatches - as well as another one I've seen with carpet, in fact.

If i remember well it used to be the middle ceiling (the one with no light bulbs). It was 2005 when I was selling one of these!
You had a small leather latch, and you used to go out from the dinette settee. It was medium sized.
The models I saw it on was a 2003, 4 models (pre Evolution models).

 

[Phildorset]

Hi all,
thanks Mapism for the PM prompt on this.

yes PYB is remembering it as it is, it is a square hatch roughly 600x600mm (perhaps slightly smaller to suit the Italians , it is directly above the drawer unit under the stbd side window and yes, a discreet latch allows it to drop down, then you need to push up the ply board & cushion at the forward end of the dinette sofa seating above... I haven't tried it, but will after this shocking accident!
Phil