{"id":26641,"date":"2024-04-22T10:14:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T14:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.dan.org\/?post_type=dan_alert_diver&p=26641"},"modified":"2024-04-22T10:14:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T14:14:08","slug":"learning-from-the-conception","status":"publish","type":"dan_alert_diver","link":"https:\/\/world.dan.org\/fr\/alert-diver\/article\/learning-from-the-conception\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from the Conception"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Sept. 2, 2019, the small passenger vessel Conception<\/em> burned to the waterline off Santa Cruz Island, California, killing 34 people. This wasn\u2019t the first liveaboard fire, but the fearful reactions to this deadly tragedy echoed throughout the scuba industry. Liveaboard fires that have occurred since this incident have further fueled industry concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigations following the Conception<\/em> tragedy revealed several factors that likely contributed to the fire and the substantial number of fatalities, leading to an updated Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and new fire safety rules from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to help liveaboard operators and divers be better prepared for a fire or evacuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Findings from Conception<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a detailed review of the Conception<\/em> incident in their Marine Accident Report (NTSB\/MAR-20\/03), which identified several causes for the severe loss of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators believe the fire started in the salon directly above the bunkroom where people were sleeping. Both exits from the below-deck bunkroom led up to the salon. The bunkroom\u2019s fire alarms would not have activated until the fire was well-developed, so both means of escape were likely inaccessible before the alarms awakened anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Fire detection:<\/em> Only the bunkroom, as the only overnight accommodation space, was required to have smoke detectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Means of escape:<\/em> The two means of escape from the bunkroom both exited into the salon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Lack of roving patrol:<\/em> No crew member was awake or patrolling when the accident occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Safe handling operations:<\/em> The likely source of ignition was the battery charging stations in the salon, although a confidential report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly suggests the fire started in a plastic trash can in the salon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Ineffective company oversight:<\/em> Reports indicate a lack of crew training and emergency drills and procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Keep
Keep your passport, indispensable medicines, and valuables in a waterproof go bag. \u00a9 STEPHEN FRINK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"When
When on a liveaboard, familiarize yourself with the safe exits from below decks. \u00a9 STEPHEN FRINK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Charging
Charging stations can be a serious potential hazard if left unmonitored. Most boats prohibit charging lithium batteries in guest cabins. \u00a9 STEPHEN FRINK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Guidance for Divers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lessons learned from the Conception<\/em> and other dive boat fires can help guide actions you can take to ensure your own safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Understand your means of escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Make sure that the crew briefs you about how to exit living spaces. There should be at least two unobstructed ways to get out. While the crew may discuss the location of emergency exits, these exits are often not obvious or can be confusing to operate. Go to the exits and, if allowed, open them to ensure they are working properly. Remember, fires produce black smoke and darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Follow the dive boat operator\u2019s rechargeable battery protocols. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Many boats have implemented new rules for where to charge batteries, so always learn and follow them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Bring your own chargers from the original equipment manufacturer. Before you leave home, ask about the boat\u2019s power supply, including voltage, power\/current, and frequency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Ask about the crew\u2019s overnight fire watch protocols, and observe the personnel in action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Take drills seriously, and offer to help the crew perform them. All vessels are required to conduct emergency drills, including fire, person overboard, missing diver, or abandon ship. The crew may ask you to perform some basic functions to familiarize yourself with emergency gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Check the location of life preservers, and learn how to put them on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Locate the fire extinguishers in the living areas of the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 If the operator does not perform a fire drill or at least a walk-around and briefing, be sure to ask about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Consider bringing a portable, economical carbon monoxide monitor for added assurance when your cabin is below deck. This device can also test suspect cylinder breathing gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Keep the following items close to your pillow and ready to grab in an emergency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 waterproof flashlight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 a \u201cgo bag,\u201d which is a drybag no larger than 2 liters (so as not to impede your exit) containing your passport, daily medications, credit cards, phone, glasses, and any other important items <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 fume (smoke) hood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 In some cases the boat operator may instruct you to leave everything behind, so check with them at the start of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guidance for Liveaboard Operators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The NTSB Marine Accident Report of the Conception<\/em> fire offered several recommendations that the USCG adopted as an interim rule (USCG-2021-0306) in December 2021 and that were later incorporated into the CFR (46 CFR: Chapter 1: Subchapters K and T).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading and understanding the CFR can be cumbersome. The following summary can help operators understand the CFR changes, to whom they apply, and the deadlines for implementation, which were staggered because some changes were more extensive to fulfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Implementation by March 28, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Conduct passenger emergency egress drills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Post a passenger safety bill (including egress plans) in all accommodation spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Develop handling procedures for the safe operation and storage of potentially hazardous items such as rechargeable batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Develop and run crew firefighting and emergency egress drills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Submit a plan for the installation of monitoring devices to ensure the wakefulness of the roving patrol. The USCG will work with the operator to determine a reasonable implementation schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Implementation by Dec. 27, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Install interconnected fire detection systems in all spaces where passengers and crew have routine access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Implementation by Dec. 27, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Provide two unobstructed means of escape that are not located directly above or dependent on a berth. The means of escape must be independent such that one incident will not block both exits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to these CFR changes, the USCG had last implemented relevant safety regulations, including requirements for portable fire extinguishers, in March 1996, and they were applicable only to newly constructed vessels. Regulations from 1996 and those from 2021 now apply to all small passenger vessels that either operate on U.S. coastal or ocean routes or have overnight accommodations for passengers, irrespective of build date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USCG regulations apply only to U.S. registered vessels and those operating in U.S. territorial waters. All vessel operators, however, can refer to these regulations to avoid tragic incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can make diving safer by learning the lessons from history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

\u00a9 Alert Diver<\/em> \u2014 Q1 2024<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Sept. 2, 2019, the small passenger vessel Conception burned to the waterline off Santa Cruz Island, California, killing 34 people. This wasn\u2019t the first liveaboard fire, but the fearful reactions to this deadly tragedy echoed throughout the scuba industry. Liveaboard fires that have occurred since this incident have further fueled industry concerns.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":26646,"template":"","dan_alert_diver_categories":[468],"dan_alert_diver_issues":[489],"class_list":["post-26641","dan_alert_diver","type-dan_alert_diver","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","dan_alert_diver_categories-risk-mitigation","dan_alert_diver_issues-q1-2024"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLearning from the Conception - DAN World<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On Sept. 2, 2019, the small passenger vessel Conception burned to the waterline off Santa Cruz Island, California, killing 34 people. 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