The Conception: A Tragedy And Its Vessel

The Conception was a 75-foot boat that was regularly used for diving charters around the Channel Islands. It was owned by Truth Aquatics and built in 1981 by Glen Fritzler, who met his future wife on the boat. Conception was destroyed in a fire in 2019, killing 34 people. The boat was anchored off Santa Cruz Island when the U.S. Coast Guard received a mayday call around 3:30 a.m. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The Conception was a 75-foot diving boat

The boat had three decks and could sleep up to 46 people in 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. It also had a wheelhouse, crew quarters, a galley, a salon, a shower area, an engine room, and a lazarette. The vessel was constructed of wood covered with fiberglass, in line with regulations at the time. The Conception was believed to be in compliance with safety regulations, and Coast Guard inspections in 2018 and 2019 did not result in any noteworthy violations.

On the weekend of its final voyage, the Conception toured Santa Cruz Island, spending time on both the southern and northern shores. It was anchored overnight in Platts Harbor, a small bay on the island's north shore. However, in the early hours of Monday, September 2, 2019, a fire broke out on the boat, and it eventually sank off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. The fire and sinking resulted in a tragic loss of life, with 33 passengers and one crew member losing their lives.

It was owned by Truth Aquatics

The Conception was one of three dive boats owned by Truth Aquatics, a major name in the world of charters, which also owned the Vision and the Truth. Glen Fritzler, the owner of Truth Aquatics, built the Conception in 1981, and it was on this boat that he met his future wife. The 75-foot boat was regularly used for diving charters around the Channel Islands, and was under charter to Worldwide Diving Adventures for a three-day scuba diving excursion at the time of the fire. The boat had a maximum sleeping capacity of 46 people, with 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. It was constructed of wood covered with fibreglass and was in compliance with regulations last updated in 1978.

Truth Aquatics had a good reputation locally and maintained their boats in good condition, according to state Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, who represented the Santa Barbara area. However, following the fire, the company faced scrutiny over potential deficiencies in crew training, passenger safety briefings, and the failure to use a roaming night watchman. In 2020, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of Truth Aquatics to provide effective oversight of its vessel and crew member operations. The NTSB also found that Truth Aquatics had deviated from required safe practices and provided ineffective safety oversight of its vessels' operations. As a result, Truth Aquatics agreed to pause its lawsuit to limit liability until the lawsuits filed by the families of the victims were resolved.

The boat was built in 1981

The Conception was launched in 1981 and, over the years, became well-known for its diving excursions. It was a popular choice for divers interested in exploring the Channel Islands, located close to the coast of Southern California. The boat offered a unique experience with its combination of diving opportunities, gourmet meals, and discussions about the marine ecosystem with a naturalist on board.

The layout of the Conception was well-suited for its purpose. It had three decks, with the upper deck featuring the wheelhouse, crew quarters, and a sun deck lounge area. The main deck included a large cabin with a galley and a salon for dining and socialising. The lower deck could accommodate up to 46 individuals in its sleeping quarters, with 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. This deck also housed the shower area, anchor locker, engine room, and lazarette.

The boat underwent a significant refurbishment in 2005, after an incident in which it was stolen and run aground. The refurbishment cost more than $1 million, ensuring that the Conception remained a safe and comfortable option for divers exploring the Channel Islands.

The Conception's size and age meant that it was not covered by more recent federal and international regulations regarding fire safety. However, it was believed to be in compliance with the regulations in place at the time, as evidenced by Coast Guard inspections in 2018 and 2019 that did not result in any noteworthy violations.

The Conception's tragic end came in September 2019 when it caught fire and sank off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. This incident highlighted the importance of maritime safety and led to discussions about potential improvements in fire safety and emergency response.

It had three decks

The Conception was a 75-foot boat with three decks. The upper deck contained the wheelhouse, crew quarters, and a sun deck lounge area. The crew quarters on the upper deck was where the five surviving crew members were sleeping when the fire broke out. The main deck, just below the upper deck, included a large cabin with a galley and a salon. The galley, located in the forward portion of the cabin, was where the crew prepared meals, and the salon, located in the aft portion, had seating for meals. The salon could be accessed through a hallway from the stern of the boat, which was lined with restrooms.

The lower deck, which was below the main deck, was where the sleeping quarters were located. Up to 46 people could sleep in the lower deck's 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. One of the bunks was reserved for crew members. The lower deck also contained the shower area, anchor locker, engine room, and lazarette, a machinery space. The designer of the vessel stated that there were two exits from the lower deck bunk room: a forward staircase at the bow end of the vessel that led up to the galley area, and an aft escape hatch located above one of the bunks, which led to the salon.

The main access to the guest accommodations on the lower deck was through the forward stairway connected to the galley and main deck cabin. However, during the fire, both the forward stairway and the aft escape hatch appeared to have been blocked by flames, trapping those in the lower deck and preventing their escape.

The boat sank on September 2, 2019

The boat, MV Conception, sank on September 2, 2019, off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, California. The 75-foot (23-metre) dive boat caught fire and eventually sank, claiming the lives of 34 people. The Conception was anchored overnight at Platts Harbour, a small bay on the island's north shore, with 33 passengers and 6 crew members on board.

The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m., with 33 passengers and 1 crew member asleep below decks. The other 5 crew members, whose sleeping quarters were on the top deck, survived by jumping overboard. They had placed a mayday call to the Coast Guard and attempted to alert the passengers before jumping ship. The crew was rescued by a nearby boat, the Grape Escape, from which a second radio dispatch was made.

The Conception was a liveaboard boat built in Long Beach, California, and launched in 1981. It was owned by Truth Aquatics and was one of three dive boats in their fleet. The boat was regularly used for diving charters and excursions around the Channel Islands, located off the coast of Southern California. Conception had been refurbished at a cost of over $1 million following an incident in 2005 when it was stolen and run aground.

The boat was laid out with three decks. The upper deck contained the wheelhouse, crew quarters, and a sun deck lounge area. The main deck included a large cabin with a galley and a salon for meals. The lower deck could accommodate up to 46 people in 13 double bunks and 20 single bunks. It also had a shower area, anchor locker, engine room, and lazarette (a machinery space).

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and authorities launched an investigation into the incident. The fire spread quickly and blocked exit routes, trapping those below deck. The boat eventually sank stern-first about four hours after the fire broke out, coming to rest upside down at a depth of 64 feet (20 metres) just 20 yards (18 metres) from the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.

The sinking of the MV Conception is considered the worst maritime disaster in California since the sinking of the Brother Jonathan in 1865 and the deadliest in the United States since the USS Iowa turret explosion in 1989. The tragedy has raised questions and concerns about maritime safety regulations and the enforcement of existing rules.

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