Yeah, it sounds like it now. I thought I remembered a news report calling it a “fishing vessel” and didn’t see further details.
Many private yachters choose the sport fishing boat designs. They’re not as roomy as conventional yachts but they’re a lot faster. The only downside as I see it is the way the mains are crammed under the cockpit and a PIA to service.
One aspect has not be mentioned so far and that is the ventilation of that bunkhouse type of dorm. With so many people in a restricted space that could become a problem with natural ventilation.
With the estimated dimensions of 8 x 6 x 2.20 m the space totals to 105.6 m3 and that is 2.3 m3 per person. Each person has a little more than 1 (!) m2 (48/46) available. Dormitory rooms at colleges and universities usually average about 26.76 m2 of living space per person. Nevertheless research has shown that the ventilation in university dorms in both the US and China are very inadequate, so measures should be taken to improve the ventilation.
Natural ventilation?
In restricted spaces the oxygen consumption and the emission of CO2 can pose a threat when not properly ventilated. I am curious whether on the Conception only natural ventilation was provided by the door which leads to the galley or some sort of mechanical ventilation system had been installed. The latter should take in outside air.
I don’t know diddly about small boats like that but at anchor in calm waters with no AC running ( I assume Chill water plants/AC and big energy users were shut down? … well, wouldn’t the hatch be open at anchor? The hatch in the bow? Surely that’s where it was? sorry gang but i didn’t read all 250 responses like i usually would before replying.
I doubt passengers had a very good escape plan briefing !! and yes, I’d suspect gas also.
Believe it or not, air conditioning isn’t as big of a neccessity in southern california as other places…especially out by the islands and offshore. The company’s spec sheets for their boats mention nothing about ac and considering their age i doubt they were built with them or they were added. I would expect the bunkroom had some natural ventilation arrangement to main deck.
My reasoning was the same. AC’s are thirsty animals and need a lot of power which I thought was not available on these aged vessels. I suppose that open door, I hope that is it was open, was the only natural ventilation.
I’ve always made sure the nearest porthole can
be opened. Squeeze as many slight of build
folks as possible.
The exact configuration of the T boat I worked on for one month. The “escape” hatch wasn’t intuitive like another set of steps and required effort to reach and access. Even if one heard an audible alarm, had knowledge and was capable of expending the effort while inhaling smoke one still ended up in the same area as the primary escape. Hence, for all practical purposes there was no separate second means of escape.
FYI - it would be quite rare for anyone to stand anchor watch on a yacht being sailed for fun. We’ll do it if conditions are nasty, but much more likely is we try and find a good spot to anchor in the first place. It also isn’t unusual for the boat to be left empty while everyone is ashore for dinner or shopping.
Now if I had paying passengers crammed like sardines in a hold with limited exits and it was my JOB to run the boat…damn straight someone is up/
Get real. Anchoring off Santa Cruz island has nothing in common with anchoring in a basin near your favorite yacht club for dinner and drinks.
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I am sure it does not, but even so most couples on a pleasure cruise are not standing anchor watches in benign conditions. See this incident, the people on the sport fisher were sleeping 
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Reportedly, they were. I agree that on a pleasure yacht, it’s a personal choice dictated by the circumstances. I anchored off the south side of Santa Cruz island while instructing a couple on their sailboat who were preparing to go cruising and wanted some professional coaching. As effectively the master on board and after checking the weather, I let everyone go to sleep. I was a beautiful night, little wind, calm water and no change in the forecast. Big mistake.
At about 3 in the morning, all hell broke loose and I was awakened by the anchor chain banging loudly on its roller, a strong wind was gusting from the south pushing steep waves into the shallow cove. Luckily for me, the anchor held but the boat was hobby horsing violently and I didn’t expect it to hold much longer. The wind had spun us around 180 degrees bringing our stern dangerously close to the beach. Needless to say, I motored out of there while instructing the owner on retrieving the anchor and headed away.
An embarrassing lesson learned on my part. I never anchored anywhere off that island without an anchor watch ever again.
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After a quick skim of Subchapter T, am I correct in understanding that this vessel is not required to meet SOLAS requirements? Specifically photo-luminescent (glow in the dark) signage? Based on that photo I think you’d be hard pressed to find this exit in the dark, with or without smoke.
I think that is correct, no SOLAS. I don’t know much about the regs in this case but from this thread my understanding that boats grandfathered in don’t have to meet current Sub Chapter T regs.
I didn’t dig into it but from quick look I don’t think that exit meets current regs.
The offical NTSB Accident Number for this tragedy is DCA19MM047. The docket does not appear to have been opened yet. Once it is, you can find it by going to:
and searching on the Accident Number.
Earl
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I believe the hull was glass over ply.
6 posts were split to a new topic: Realism in Fire and other Shipboard Drills
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What do you want to note about it? It was predictable. Has there been some evidence released about it?
What is interesting is the lack of comment on maintaining a watch required by the rule ctony referenced. So does the lack of bullet point for that mean that wasn’t an issue?
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