Given the islands’ micro climate, you’re right about the weather concern. I posted earlier about an episode on one of my first visits to the islands which nearly ended in disaster.
Excerpts from the National Park Service website:
…visitors also should be aware that ocean and weather conditions vary considerably from day-to-day and island-to-island…
…visitors to the islands must be prepared for high winds, fog, rough seas, and sea spray at any time. Winds are often calm in the early morning and increase during the afternoon. High winds may occur regardless of the forecast, especially on the outer islands, Santa Rosa and San Miguel (30-knot winds are not unusual).
…Dense fog is common during the late spring and early summer months, but may occur at any time.
While it’s known that the boat did not have a watch at the time of the fire it’s not known if the boat routinely went without watches. It’s possible that the captain assigned watches based on what he expected. He may have been very successful in the past having watches on nights when the weather kicked up and maybe knocking someone off for a few hours on nights expected to be quiet if the crew’s work day had been long.
There is a risk of knocking the watch off of course but here is also a risk of extending the work day from 18 hrs to 24 when crew will be needed the next day.
This is hypothetical and perhaps even unlikely, but it is a possibility and again I have no interest in making excuses for anyone.
Of course that is the weather risk only, not fire which the captain almost certainly did not expect.
But there are two different types of hazards here. A berthing space fire is low probability/high consequence but the captain would have no experience to guide his decision making. Only the words typed on the COI which may have had little meaning to him.
This is especially true if the captain has his confidence built up by having made good calls on the weather in the past.
I think its been documented that that crew member was sleeping. Pretty sure that was the cook, and on charter boats the cook usually doesn’t stand watch. They probably have the longest day out of everyone putting out 3 meals a day and snacks for everyone.
That’s for sure about the cooks. That poor guy was probably planning on being up at 0430 to start getting ready for breakfast. But you know how attorneys can be.
Since no one has mentioned this, I will. In 2013 the vessel Condor Express which also operates out of Sea Landing, suffered a fire which burnt the wheelhouse off the boat. The cause was a battery charging station in the wheelhouse which was charging a handheld radio. Here is a link to the story.
Why do Lithium batteries catch fire or explode? This website provides some basic information and also gives tips how to minimize the risks. Even putting a blanket over a laptop can cause a fire or explosion…
When this event happened and reports were the crew got off but all the passengers died, I said to myself “I bet no one was on watch. Somebody is going to jail over this.”.
Well, looks like they didn’t have anyone on watch and I bet everyone with a ticket is going to jail.
Sorry, but this is just inexcusable professional conduct.
We all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. My navigation/seamanship sins have mostly been forgiven, not by the Lord perhaps but by the fact of sailing on ships of all steel construction.
I’m sure they didn’t intend for this to happen and the guilt must be crushing, but there isn’t an excuse for this. It’s literally the reason you stand a watch: the safety of the vessel and passengers.
