Sinking of MV Conception

MV Conception was a commercial diving vessel that sank off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, California on September 2, 2019. The incident resulted in one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent United States history.

Background

The MV Conception was a 75-foot (23 m) long commercial diving vessel owned and operated by Truth Aquatics. The vessel was built in 1981 and was certified by the United States Coast Guard to carry up to 46 people. It was primarily used for multi-day diving trips in the Channel Islands National Park.

The Incident

On the night of September 2, 2019, while anchored off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, a fire broke out on the vessel. The 33 passengers and one crew member sleeping below deck were trapped and died of smoke inhalation. The five surviving crew members, who were sleeping on the upper deck, were able to escape and were rescued by a nearby boat.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the incident. The NTSB's final report, released in October 2020, concluded that the probable cause of the fire was the lack of oversight by Truth Aquatics and the failure to follow safety regulations. The report also noted that the vessel lacked a roving night watchman, which could have detected the fire earlier.

Aftermath

The sinking of the MV Conception led to widespread calls for improved safety regulations in the commercial diving industry. In response, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a series of safety recommendations, including the requirement for roving night watchmen on similar vessels.

See also

• List of maritime disasters
• Maritime safety

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