Special hearing on maritime safety held in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - In a follow up from the 2019 Conception dive boat disaster that took 34 lives in the Santa Barbara Channel, a special Congressional hearing was held in Santa Barbara Monday.
The U.S. Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee all took part in the hearing.
The hearing focused on ongoing efforts to improve vessel safety.
Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee appeared via zoom in the Santa Barbara City Council chambers.
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and Rear Admiral John Mauger, the United States Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, gave their reports and answered questions.
Chairman Salud Carbajal (D)-California conducted the hearing in two hours and then escorted the group, including family members over, to the Conception memorial at the Santa Barbara harbor.
The hearing also included a moment of silence to remember the lives lost.
In the session Carbajal told the committee and public about the tragedy saying,
"because there was no inter connected fire alarm system on the vessel, the passengers and crew were not alerted to the fire when smoke filled the lower levels."
There was also a requirement to have a roving watchman all night on deck, which was in question the night of the Conception fire.
Upgraded inspection schedules and proof of a safety plan are part of the changes going forward. "The requirements for the vessels will take effect on or around March 28th," said Carbajal.
The Coast Guard says its safety rules have included new random checks.
Rear Admiral John Mauger, United States Coast Guard Assistant Commandant, said, "throughout the summer last summer to make sure the vessels did have somebody awake and alert and were setting proper watches."
Parenta of fire victim were at the hearing. Outside, standing together they talked about the hearing and rules going forward.
"I want qualified inspectors out there, highly qualified inspectors, not folks that are just going to meet the minimum. It's important for all vessels," said Kathleen McIlvain. Her husband Chuck said, "early detection and aggressive suppression saves lives in any fire, and they did not comply."
"We want safety, so other moms and other dads husbands and wives and especially sisters, because my daughter, she lost all her sisters, on that boat and we don't want this to ever happen again," said Susana Solano Rosas.
