Edhat Staff
On the the fifth anniversary of the Conception dive boat disaster, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a news conference Monday focusing on key safety enhancements for small passenger vessels.
This announcement comes as a response to the devastating fire aboard the Conception dive boat that led to the loss of 34 lives off the coast of Santa Cruz Island on Labor Day, 2019.
The vessel, stationed 25 miles south of Santa Barbara, was engulfed by flames before dawn on the concluding day of a three-day diving expedition, ultimately sinking a mere 100 feet from shore. The tragedy intensified as reports emerged of Captain Jerry Boylan, aged 70, being the first to desert the vessel, followed by four other crew members, while 33 passengers and one crew member perished in the fire.
In the aftermath, Boylan faced legal consequences, receiving a sentence of four years in prison along with three years of supervised release, although he currently remains free pending an appeal. Additionally, Boylan has been mandated to compensate approximately $32,000 in restitution to the families of three victims.
At the forefront of Monday afternoon’s conference was NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, who addressed the public and press at the MV Conception Memorial at Point Castillo.
The focus of the conference highlighted the dire need for substantive enhancements in the safety protocols governing small passenger vessels. NTSB aims to advocate for further action regarding the safety recommendations laid out following their thorough investigation into the 2019 catastrophe.
Homendy said the inaction by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since the disaster is unacceptable.
“I approve to implement a safety management system (SMS). What that means is safety policies, emergency drills, training, you know the procedures that crew members need to follow, you know simple policies. Issue it. We’ve been waiting, and so, we are demanding it,” said Homendy.
She stated the batteries charging by a trashcan near an exit may have played a role in the sparking the fire that trapped the 33 passengers and 1 crew member below deck.
As the community and bereaved families gathered to remember those lost, the NTSB’s initiative serves as a critical step towards ensuring the prevention of such tragedies in the future, aligning with the broader commitment to maritime safety and vigilance.
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Sure, but I think he (Boylan) and SEA Landing were real outliers as far as safety was concerned. Never been on an overnight boat with NO NIGHT WATCH. Nothing even close to this has happened before.