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What we know about the burning ship in California and its last trip

2019-09-04T09:19:30.023Z


After 38 years of operation at sea, the Conception, a 75-foot boat (almost 23 meters) that offered tourists speed, comfort and all the necessary comforts, perished in a fury ...


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(CNN) - He was presumed to be a “warrior,” a 75-foot (almost 23-meter) boat that offered tourists speed, comfort, and all the necessary amenities.

The Conception was a success among divers and actor Rob Lowe, who said he had been on the ship "many times."

But after 38 years at sea, the boat perished in a furious hell on Labor Day and took more than 20 lives.

A fireman tries to extinguish the fire in the Conception.

"This is probably the worst case scenario," said Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.

This is what we know about the boat and its last excursion:

The passengers were on a 3-day trip for $ 665

The 33 passengers on the final Conception trip were on a trip "designed by divers for divers," organizers said.

“The night dives are delicious; octopuses run along the reefs and the bioluminescent colors of the zooplankton flash underlining the silhouette of the diver, ”said an announcement.

Passengers would enjoy tailor-made gourmet meals, unlimited diving and "an opportunity to explore the pinnacles of the island of San Miguel."

The organizers said that Truth Aquatics, the company that operates the boat, is known for its professionalism.

"Their commitment to the service is shown through the smiles of the crew members who love their jobs and receive special safety training," the announcement said.

Truth Aquatics, the company that operated the Conception, has rejected CNN comment requests.

The Conception was launched in 1981 and could carry 46 passengers.

The passengers were not locked on the lower deck

It is still unclear what caused the ship to catch fire around 3:14 a.m. on Monday, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the coast of California.

A call for help between the ship's captain and a Coast Guard dispatcher suggested that passengers might have been locked up.

“There are 33 people aboard the ship that is on fire, can't they get off?”, The dispatcher is heard asking. “Aware, are they locked inside the boat? … Aware, can you get back on board and unlock the boat, open the door so they can leave? ”

But the captain of the Coast Guard, Monica Rochester, said "there are no doors with insurance in the accommodation spaces" of the Conception where passengers slept.

"The only privacy you have ... is the curtains," Rochester said Tuesday.

She said chaos and confusion during the fire may have led to misunderstandings about the possible confinement of passengers

"There was a lot of activity going on, and as you can guess, from the communication system ... a lot of confusion," Rochester said.

A video aboard the ship in 2018 shows that the beds were separated by curtains.

The passengers were caught by the fire

Although the passengers were not locked in the bedroom deck, they were apparently caught in the fire, said Sheriff Brown.

“There was a ladder to go down the main entrance, up and down, and there was an escape hatch. And it would seem that both were blocked by fire. ”

A plan of the Conception's bedrooms shows only one staircase that leads to the next deck.

The Conception approved its annual inspection

"This vessel must be inspected annually by the United States Coast Guard and had complied," Rochester said.

Inspection requirements include smoke detectors on board, he said.

The Conception had a berth capacity for 46 people, but it had enough rafts and life jackets for 110 passengers, the operating company said.

In addition to its safety features, the Conception was praised for its size, speed and "perfectly adapted design," said Truth Aquatics.

"Its larger size allowed a revised display of galley and bunk beds, which includes more double berths, bathrooms and showers," the company said.

"This makes the Conception ideal for larger groups or limited-load trips, with enough comfort so that the southern islands are within easy reach."

A 2018 video shows a group of divers aboard the Conception.

A regular ship escapes the tragedy

Dale Sheckler, co-founder of California Diving News, has traveled at the Conception more than 100 times.

He was supposed to make the trip unfortunate during Labor Day weekend. But a recent hip surgery may have saved his life.

"I just couldn't get out on the boat this particular weekend," said Sheckler.

“It was very painful to see this happen. I love the boat. I love the crew. I love the owners, they are simply fantastic. ”

He said the tragedy will have a lasting impact on the united diving community.

"It will cause waves in the community over the next few years, because of the size of the loss," said Sheckler. “It is devastating. I can't imagine when the names come out, I know I will be surprised when I see them. ”

CNN's Konstantin Toropin and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2019-09-04

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