Hell on earth

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Such a scenario raises what is, to me, a painfully obvious questions - wouldn't there be some sort of a detection mechanism and an alarm that would sound under these conditions?

I would like to think every boat has a detector but especially a commercial vessel.
Ideally the propane tank is in a vented locker on deck and only turned on when cooking.

[Baz]

Explosion from flammable gas/fluid makes the most sense as culprit here.

Lot of stuff to me doesn't make sense as pertaining to safety. Not trying to change the subject, but look at the hurricane right now and all the chaos associated with it. You'd think by now we'd have our act together.

Back to this tragedy......too late to help these people but I hope at least something productive comes out of it wrt mitigating future incidents.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Interesting. Is this your theory of what happened, or do you have more information on this? I'm not being contrary - I mean, it sounds like the most likely scenario, and I agree with your theory (if that is what it is).

Such a scenario raises what is, to me, a painfully obvious questions - wouldn't there be some sort of a detection mechanism and an alarm that would sound under these conditions?

Just my theory but having spent a lot of time on sailboats with propane stoves over the last 30+ years I am very much aware of the dangers of a propane leak in an enclosed area like a boat. The storage tanks themselves would be in exterior lockers and vented overboard. It is the leaks down below where the problem is. As I said, propane is heavier than air and settles in the low areas of the boat.
It is the only thing I can think of that would cause a conflagaration like that where no one has a chance of escaping. I have heard of other boats (mainly rundown shrimpers) going off like that and it being because of propane leaks.

On my boats, unless we were actually using the propane stove, we had the valves turned off at the propane tanks. I would never go to sleep with the tank valves open.


they absolutely should have had a propane leak detector . They either didn't or it was not functioning. Again, just my theory.

[Arizona_928]

17 y/o female that shares a birthday with two others the day prior.... I would not want to be that ME.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by bmcuscgr94

watching live press conference on Santa Barbara's KEYT, still limited information but search on going. Boat has sunk and is inverted.

No search. Recovery...

[bugstrider]

This is truly a very sad and tragic day. I have dove with Truth Aquatics on several occasions as well as friends and coworkers. Yesterday was spent calling friends in our diving world and we fear we may have known someone on board. Like the Porsche community, the diving community is well connected.

My wife and some friends were on the Conception in 2013 and I can not imagine what happened.

Please keep the families of the victims in your thoughts and prayers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[drcoastline]

Like many of you I have to lean toward a propane leak. Most likely from a line or a fitting as I am sure the tank was isolated and vented overboard. Gas filled the bilges and below deck areas. The cooks brother was interviewed and stated his brother typically would be cooking breakfast at 3:30-4:00 AM. That time frame is consistent with the fire of 3:15AM. Most likely the cook turned on a light or lit a burner that caused the gas to ignite. The cook survived, it will be interesting to hear his account of the tragedy.

What I can not figured out however, is why there weren't any escape hatches from that berthing area and why were all the doors locked? From the reports the boat was on the hook so no reason have all the doors locked and clearly unsafe in an emergency situation.

[GH85Carrera]

I know very little about boats, so I will admit ignorance.

It just seems crazy that there is only one stairwell for everyone to get down below or back above. I understand that deck space is always tight on any boat of any size, but to have just one way to escape just seems illogical and very dangerous.

I have to agree with all the rest, it is a sad day for many families and a real tragedy. To be trapped in a sinking and burning boat is as bad as an airplane hurtling toward the earth and out of control.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I know very little about boats, so I will admit ignorance.

It just seems crazy that there is only one stairwell for everyone to get down below or back above. I understand that deck space is always tight on any boat of any size, but to have just one way to escape just seems illogical and very dangerous.

I have to agree with all the rest, it is a sad day for many families and a real tragedy. To be trapped in a sinking and burning boat is as bad as an airplane hurtling toward the earth and out of control.

A single staircase is normal for regular ingress and egress. But there should be an escape route out of below deck spaces. My boat at 53 feet has two escape hatches. One in the bow and one in the stern. Usually they are used for additional ventilation but in the event of an emergency they can be used to escape the vessel.

It is just odd that a modern purpose built 75 foot dive boat capable of sleeping forty people doesn't have hatches to the upper decks? This is a USCG passenger carrying inspected vessel.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

17 y/o female that shares a birthday with two others the day prior.... I would not want to be that ME.

You would not want to be one of the crewmen who survived that was her boyfriend.
RIP to all.

BTW, explosion was reported 'off-record' until the forensics are done. Most likely died of asphyxiation; lack of oxygen coupled with toxic fumes.

A speculative thought on my part: the ship's cook was up early getting ready to prep breakfast at the time, approximately 3:30 am.. You can guess the rest.

[drcoastline]

Boat was built in 1981. It passed a USCG inspection in February.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by 74-911

Just my theory but having spent a lot of time on sailboats with propane stoves over the last 30+ years I am very much aware of the dangers of a propane leak in an enclosed area like a boat. The storage tanks themselves would be in exterior lockers and vented overboard. It is the leaks down below where the problem is. As I said, propane is heavier than air and settles in the low areas of the boat.
It is the only thing I can think of that would cause a conflagaration like that where no one has a chance of escaping. I have heard of other boats (mainly rundown shrimpers) going off like that and it being because of propane leaks.

On my boats, unless we were actually using the propane stove, we had the valves turned off at the propane tanks. I would never go to sleep with the tank valves open.


they absolutely should have had a propane leak detector . They either didn't or it was not functioning. Again, just my theory.

Thanks for the explanation - a non-boater like myself can only guess at this stuff. It helps to hear from someone with experience. What you say makes perfect sense.

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

No search. Recovery...

Yep, more info being released as on scene updates come in. Another press conference at 10 this morning with the latest

[drcoastline]

Update- Just reported there was a 2'x2' hatch. Where exactly it was located was not reported.

[flipper35]

I heard bits of this on the radio this morning and they mentioned the dispatcher from the Coast Guard clarifying "The passengers are locked in the boat?" There was a blurb in USA Today as well, but it seems odd and the first part was garbled so I would think the dispatcher mis-heard the original call.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Update- Just reported there was a 2'x2' hatch. Where exactly it was located was not reported.

I've read somewhere that it was on the end opposite the stairs. I'm starting to think that it came up into the galley, like the stairs. A bad galley fire might block both exits.

I suspect Zeke is onto something...

[Zeke]

@ post #35: Probably "blocked" in the boat.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by javadog

I've read somewhere that it was on the end opposite the stairs. Probably near the stern.

Which is where it should be. Opposite end of the exit. If they exit is blocked you can go the opposite direction to get out. But if there was a hatch why are they saying no hatch?

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Zeke

@ post #35: Probably "blocked" in the boat.

Most likely, hence the clarification.

[wdfifteen]

I was hoping they died quickly, but just read a report that many of them drowned. Trapped in a sinking boat and drowned. I'll have nightmares.