The National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) has scheduled a board meeting for October 20, 2020, to consider the agency's investigation of the fatal September 2, 2019, fire aboard the dive boat Conception off Santa Cruz Island, California.
The commercial diving vessel, with 33 passengers and six crew aboard, was anchored in Platts Harbor off Santa Cruz Island when it caught fire. One crewmember and 33 passengers died in the accident.
The NTSB's five-member board will vote on the findings, probable cause, and recommendations as well as any changes to the draft final report.
The NTSB had earlier identified a number of possible safety lapses that may have led to the fire. These include inadequate crew training for dealing with emergencies, defective alarms, and a poorly built escape hatch on the vessel, which eventually sank hours after the blaze ignited.
