Los Angeles – The latest U.S. One of the deadliest accidents in maritime history was the fault of dive boat owners in Southern California, whose lack of oversight caused the fire to erupt from the ship and kill 34 people in their bunk under the deck. Ruled on Tuesday.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the captain of the conception failed to post a night watchman aboard the ship, which caused the fire to spread quickly and trapped 33 passengers and one crew member. The NTSB also blamed the Coastguard for not enforcing that requirement and recommended developing a program to ensure there are real guards on night passenger boats.
Last year’s accident during a scuba diving trip on Labor Day weekend near Santa Cruz Island, far from Santa Barbara, prompted inquiries for a criminal and safety investigation. Court documents say the charges against Captain Jerry Boylan are close.
In a chilling revelation, investigators told NTSB that, as some of the bodies recovered were wearing shoes, they believed the victims were awake and trying to escape before overcoming the smoke. Both exits from the bunkroom were blocked by flames and the list of smoke inhalations in coroner reports is the cause of death of all.
Board member Jennifer Homandy, who traveled to Santa Barbara in 2019 and visited a sister ship of the Concept, blasted Boylan and owners, Truth Aquatics, during a virtual hearing on the findings of the investigation.
“I hate the word accident in this case because, in my opinion, it’s not an accident if you fail to run your company safely.”
Prior to the tragedy, Boylan and Truth Aquatics enjoyed a good reputation with customers and the Santa Barbara boating community. Coast Guard records show Concept has passed two of its most recent safety inspections.
But NTSB investigators blamed the company and the captain for litany of issues, including failing to train crews on emergency procedures.
“Clear your work,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt, referring to Truth Aquatics.
Lawyers for Boylan and Truth Aquatics did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Investigators said the boat caught fire and sank, so they could not determine what caused the fire. But they found out that it started at the back of the main deck saloon, where divers burned phones, flashlights and other items and installed lithium ion batteries.
“Some people may walk in and say, ‘Well, I want to know what the ignition source is,'” Homandy said. “But the key here is to focus on the conditions that did not detect the fire and so on.” Allowed to grow in places where migration was prevented. “
Attorney Jeffrey Goodman, representing the family members of the nine victims, said the board’s findings confirmed that the tragedy was “predictable and preventable.”
Truth Aquatics violates federal law by failing to keep a regular rowing night watch, Goodman said in a statement.
Homandy and other board members also slammed the Coast Guard, saying inadequate regulations – such as the need for interconnected smokers at all accommodation spaces and poor emergency management – needed to be reformed.
Coast Guard records also show that since 1991, no owner, operator operator or charter has been issued a compliment or penalty for failing to post a roving patrol, which the NTSB said is not an effective system for requisite verification and requested to be implemented.
“We will not let this tragedy, this tragedy, go to waste,” Sumwalt said.
The NTSB does not have the power to enforce and must submit its suggestions for safety enhancement to organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration or the Coast Guard, which have repeatedly rejected some of the board’s recommendations after other disasters.
“The Coastguard will carefully consider the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board through a deliberate process, including a review of all subject matter experts and senior leaders responsible for implementing possible regulatory changes,” Lt. CMDR said. Scott McBride said in a statement.
Following the fire of conception, the Coastguard issued a bulletin recommending a limitation on the inadvisable use of lithium ion batteries and the widespread use of power strips and extension cords.
John Hillsman, a lawyer representing the relatives of the five victims, said his clients were upset to see the changes made. He described the operation of some truth aquatics, including a violation of rowing and watch, as “just leaving the jaw.”
Five crew members, including Bolan, were sleeping on the upper deck when the fire broke out around the morning passengers in the upper part of the only escape building leading to the bunkroom where the passengers and a single crew member were sleeping. Boylen and four other crewmen jumped into the water and escaped after repeated attempts to rescue those under the deck.
The size of the emergency hatch – 22 inches by 22 inches – met the rules, although members of the safety board criticized its inadequacy. For its location, passengers had to climb to the top and then pull themselves up.
Board member Michael E. “I don’t see how the average man in a life jacket can adopt that hatch … without being contradictory,” said Graham, board member Michael E. Said Graham.
Another exit from the bunkroom led to the same compartment.
The families of the 32 victims have filed lawsuits against the boat owners, Glenn and Dana Fritzler and Truth Aquatics. In return, Fritzlers and the company have made legal claims to protect them from damage under maritime law that limits liability for ship owners. Court filings show they have offered to make legal compromises with relatives of dozens of victims.
