This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On September 2, 2019, a devastating fire broke out on the Conception scuba diving boat, resulting in the loss of 34 lives. A recent federal report has shed light on the tragic events leading up to the disaster, revealing that all six crew members were asleep at the time of the incident.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the crew had failed to uphold a critical safety protocol, which required at least one member to be awake and on watch. Lisa Novak, a spokesperson for the United States Coast Guard, noted that the Conception was required to have a 'roving watch' under its certificate of inspection.
NTSB investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire and will examine regulations governing boats of this type, as well as their build and operation. The preliminary report highlights the crew's attempts to reach the 33 passengers and one crew member trapped below deck, but their efforts were hindered by the intense fire and smoke.
One of the crew members, alerted by a noise, alerted the others to the fire near the back of the deck. The captain then sent out a distress call to the Coast Guard, but the crew members were unable to access the salon and galley compartment due to the intense heat and smoke.
As the situation became increasingly dire, the crew members jumped overboard and swam to a nearby boat, where they were rescued. However, their efforts to save the passengers were ultimately unsuccessful, and the Conception sank, resulting in the loss of 34 lives.
The NTSB investigation will also focus on early warning systems, smoke detection, evacuation routes, training, and policies and procedures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
