Conceptions COI allowed them reduced crew by 1 alongside when berthing is occupied. In other words they needed 3 crew with one of them awake and roving per their COI.
That would mean a Master or Mate would have to be aboard, since the crew of four would also include two deckhands.
no matter what it becomes an issue of bottom line $.
Yes, it would take a lot of money to hire a extra Master, or mate, just so they could babysit folks overnight at the dock. Less for the deck hands.
Perhaps the similar boats need to replace the big bunk room with 10 twin cabins made to resist fire plus with proper monitoring and sprinklers, then charge double and move upmarket.
Maybe it could be fitted with 4 - 6 small cabins depending on the hall and exits to the next deck space requirements, but there is no room for ten. It is a small bunk room, as I remember 3 bunks long, 3 bunks high, 4 rows, add some room for narrow passageways between bunk rows and the stairs to the next deck, say 23'X30' approximately.
And you assume there is an up market, that wouldn't fly to a warm water destination for the same price. As it is, they rarely have limited load trips where they don't fully book the boat.
One of the articles I read a former USCG inspector said that the Conception was "a compliant death trap.
Out for his ten minutes of fame, and possible expert witness gig. Anything is a compliant death trap if you don't make it out in time, car, house, hotel... He was an industry professional that certified this type of boat compliant and did nothing to change the regulations.
As I wrote, there were crew members present when we boarded and we were given a basic safety briefing (although I went on these boats often enough to know what to do)
Was this the morning of the trip when they do the roll call before leaving, or the night before you sleep over?
Applying the same rule to the LOBs, Conception clearly posed a safety risk. So, instead of rushing some questional changes of the "zero tolerance to lithium" kind, why not start with safety basics?
A safety basic is removing a possible fire risk, it can be done quickly. Re-engineering a boat to provide more exits takes more time, as a marine architect needs to insure the structural integrity of the vessel. The USCG needs to give direction on what will be required, so far it is to insure a watch, and don't trust lithium batteries. I'm sure the emergency exits will be addressed later.
Bob
