Dive boat fire - 30 trapped

[dom]

This looks absolutely terrible: dive vessel in flames just off Santa Cruz Island Santa Barbara

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/california-boat-fire/index.html

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I think this is the boat.

https://www.truthaquatics.com/conception/

But more to the point, this is the 'bunkroom', and seems to have only one exit. You have to have two even on a small boat to meet ORC regs - how on earth did it get permission to operate?

 

[dom]

That can’t be right, can it? One assumes there must be other exits for the purpose of escape, although the fact that all of the crew got off and none of the passengers (according to early reports) suggests otherwise.

One can only hope the rest are floating around in life rafts, LJs, or perhaps even swimming. It does, however, seem like a terrible human tragedy is unfolding.

 

[Poignard]

T[...]It does, however, seem like a terrible human tragedy is unfolding.

It does, horrible to think of.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That can’t be right, can it? One assumes there must be other exits for the purpose of escape, although the fact that all of the crew got off and none of the passengers (according to early reports) suggests otherwise.

Discussion elsewhere suggests that US rules would have insisted on a second exit hatch, at lest 32" square. The diagram posted is just to show the bunk layout, not important safety features. Here's the cabin:

 

[Orion Jim]

The US Coast Guard has stringent design standards and annual inspections for passenger vessels. I find it hard to imagine a scenario where one entrance with no alternative means of escape would have been allowed. It will be interesting to see what is discovered once the official accident investigation is initiated.
This is a horrifying tragedy and will be forever used as an example of the failure to ensure passenger safety. Especially since early reports indicate that the crew managed to survive.

 

[JumbleDuck]

 

[lw395]

The US Coast Guard has stringent design standards and annual inspections for passenger vessels. I find it hard to imagine a scenario where one entrance with no alternative means of escape would have been allowed. It will be interesting to see what is discovered once the official accident investigation is initiated.
This is a horrifying tragedy and will be forever used as an example of the failure to ensure passenger safety. Especially since early reports indicate that the crew managed to survive.

Shocking.
I can't understand how this could have happened.
Need to wait for some facts to come out.

Makes me think twice about carrying the dinghy on the foredeck, where it blocks the hatch.

 

[KellysEye]

>Shocking.
I can't understand how this could have happened.
Need to wait for some facts to come out.

I agree.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Shocking.
I can't understand how this could have happened.
Need to wait for some facts to come out.

Makes me think twice about carrying the dinghy on the foredeck, where it blocks the hatch.

I'm ashamed I have never thought of that.
I shall have to think of an alternative, even if involves more inflating/deflating/stowing.
Thank you

 

[KellysEye]

One thought abour the fire is we saw a yacht tied to a buoy in Bonaire burn down to water level caused by an electrical faiure.

 

[RichardS]

Most of the missing have now been found dead on the seabed. Still a few to be accounted for but, other than the crew, there will be no survivors.

A terrible tragedy.

Richard

 

[prv]

I'm ashamed I have never thought of that.
I shall have to think of an alternative, even if involves more inflating/deflating/stowing.

I hesitate to divert the thread off into practical discussions of dinghy handling, but assuming a normal yacht inflatable it seems to me that a knife stowed nearby - to cut either the lashings or the dinghy itself - would be sufficient to allow escape if needed.

A good point, though.

Pete

 

[Leighb]

I hesitate to divert the thread off into practical discussions of dinghy handling, but assuming a normal yacht inflatable it seems to me that a knife stowed nearby - to cut either the lashings or the dinghy itself - would be sufficient to allow escape if needed.

A good point, though.

Pete

Surely though, if you are down below trying to escape, you won’t be able to get to the knife or the lashings as you would have to open the hatch to do so.

 

[bedouin]

I hesitate to divert the thread off into practical discussions of dinghy handling, but assuming a normal yacht inflatable it seems to me that a knife stowed nearby - to cut either the lashings or the dinghy itself - would be sufficient to allow escape if needed.

A good point, though.

Pete

Not if you couldn't open the hatch enough to wield the knife.

The only bit of safety briefing I give to everyone who comes on the boat is to point out that the fore hatch is a means of escape in an emergency.

 

[Deleted member 478]

Most of the missing have now been found dead on the seabed. Still a few to be accounted for but, other than the crew, there will be no survivors.

A terrible tragedy.

Richard

Sounds like very poor journalism: if they were trapped inside, how did they end up on the seabed?

 

[halcyon]

Sounds like very poor journalism: if they were trapped inside, how did they end up on the seabed?

Is that a serious question? boat burnt to waterline, sank, bodies floated out maybe ?

Brian

 

[JumbleDuck]

Is that a serious question? boat burnt to waterline, sank, bodies floated out maybe ?

There are a lot of conflicting stories, but as far as I can see, some hours after the fire was over the boat turned over and sank. The most recent reports say that it's upside down on the bottom in 60 feet of water, and that the bodies they haven't recovered are believed to be underneath the wreck - having, presumably, fallen out as it sank.

 

[PilotWolf]

Unfortunately in my experience the USCG isn't actually that good at making sure the rules are adhered to or that owners and operators are held accountable.

PW

 

[Deleted member 478]

Is that a serious question? boat burnt to waterline, sank, bodies floated out maybe ?

Brian

See #7. Doesn't look very sunk to me.