On the eve of the second anniversary of California's worst maritime disaster, the wrongful-death lawsuit alleges the U.S. Coast Guard failed to enforce regulations.
Family members of the 34 people who died in the Conception dive boat fire off the Channel Islands in 2019 are suing the U.S. Coast Guard, alleging it failed to enforce regulations and allowed the vessel to operate with substandard electrical and safety systems that led to the deaths.
Less than a year before the fire, the Coast Guard certified the boat to carry 40 passengers overnight “even though her electrical wiring systems, her fire detection and suppression systems and passenger accommodation escape hatch were in open and obvious violation of” federal regulations, according to the lawsuit.
“Sadly, certifying noncompliant vessels is commonplace at the Coast Guard,” he added. “The time has come for the Coast Guard to be held accountable for its failures to protect those victims and prevent future maritime disasters on America’s waterways.”Goodman said that although most people know of the men and women who risk their lives in critical safety missions, the Coast Guard also is a regulatory agency responsible for properly certified vessels.
The suit alleges the Coast Guard knew or should have known that Truth Aquatics added “undocumented and ill-designed electrical outlets throughout the vessel for the purpose of battery charging” and encouraged passengers and crew to charge video cameras, smartphones, underwater scooter power packs and other lithium-ion battery equipment.
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