Posted on 09/03/2019 6:56:09 AM PDT by libstripper
My money is on Propane from the Galley.
...
The stairs and the escape hatch led to the galley so a fire there would trap them.
Oxygen for the dive tanks?
The rule books are always subject to change ESPECIALLY following disasters like this. There is a pair of programs on the Smithsonian Channel, "Air Disasters" & "Maritime Disasters", showing such as this and how regulations are changed following the investigations. In one episode the comment was made about how operating manuals are written in blood!
Due to this being a public conveyance operating under US Coast Guard (USCG) auspices, this will almost certainly be a multiagency investigation with the USCG, NTSB and California agencies being involved. Final report will take several months.
Yes,in February. Everything was quickly remediated.
Sounds like there were some chemicals on that boat that burn like that. Thermite?
How about a rehearsal on getting out in case of an emergency. I am a pilot of a small single engine airplane and briefing passengers in case of an emergency is part of the check list. One would think the same would apply on a boat.
Oxy for the dive tanks was my guess, too.
From the story: "U.S. Coast Guard records document regular inspections of the ship, including in February of this year and in August 2018, which did not indicate any violations. Previous inspections showed deficiencies relating to fire safety that were promptly corrected including 2017 replacement of a fire extinguisher and a 2016 replacement of a heat detector in the galley's fire detection system. A leaking firehose was replaced in 2014 and emergency lighting below decks appears to have been installed in 2009..."
All in all it looks like a well-maintained, regularly inspected boat. Deficiencies all appeared minor and all were promptly addressed.
Yes, I’ve been on this boat. There is an escape hatch over the back bunk. But, assuming they became aware of the fire before they died/passed out, I can’t even imagine the chaos of 30+ people trying to all go out through that escape hatch.
Divers breathe regular air from their tanks. They do have some stored EANx 32 (Nitrox) which is Enriched Air (32% oxygen) that some divers use. THe only pure oxygen onboard would be in the emergency kits.
Which made the conflagration worse. I think the fire was made worse when the oxygen tanks for the divers exploded, which accelerated the scope of the fire to an unstoppable level. That's why NASA abandoned the use of 100% oxygen environments on the ground after the Apollo 1 fire.
30 people. One exit accessible by climbing up a bunkset.Perhaps one or two people could have gotten out if the fire were not so quick.
Maybe there are other threads that raise the Arkancide possibility. It will be interesting to see the “coinkydinks” of who knew whom on that death barge.
And my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased.
“Oxy for the dive tanks was my guess, too.”
Don’t they use compressed air? Even for deep dives they don’t use oxygen.
Long ago and far away, while a friends boat was tied up at the dock on a cold night, he kept his diesel stove burning for heat - something happened and his boat caught fire from the stove. So it is possible there was a diesel fire.
However, the crew all got off safely with no attempts to save the passengers - something they will have to live with for the rest of there lives - no matter the cause of the fire.
It didnt sink in flames.
It burned to the waterline.
This bunk configuration is used by many dive boats and long range fishing boats in CA. This trajedy may well change regulations and put their whole business plan in jeopardy. The most likely place for a fire to start is the galley and having that above the only big escape route from the sleeping compartment is a real safety hazard.
this is a good point. Responsible Mariners would have seen to this. I hope I am wrong but drugs in some way fit into this IMO
They had a tender with an outboard, so would have had some gasoline onboard for that. Also 2 generators and air compressors for filling tanks that could have overheated or something. The galley used electric for cooking, so probably not a galley fire. They had some Oxygen available for medical treatment. Maybe could have had a leak there that would most likely go undetected.
This is a dive boat for experienced divers.
No one dives on pure O2.
Nitrox 36% is the only thing they would have had on-board.
I dove the Conception in the 90’s (Bunk 18u if I remember)
It is a bit tight down below as its really only for sleeping and resting between dives.
In an emergency situation, it would be tough to get everyone out safe.
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