I’ve read through some of these vessels inspections. Only small infractions. Well I can tell you tell the Coast Gusrd to take their blinders off , there inspections are really shoddy and poor. Cherry picking. Do your job. A dive vessel should have more crew members, especially a night watch
The MV Conception incident occurred on September 2, 2019. The MBI still has not been released, this is unexceptable. I’ve been told for the past year it’s all ready, just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
Marine Board of Inquiry as described by AI
AI Overview:
I have to ask how is the U.S. Coast Guard suppose to learn and teach from this incident if they can’t release their findings? Shouldn’t both the industry and the U.S. Coast Guard be able to learn from their findings?
“The primary purpose of a USCG Marine Board of Inquiry (MBI) is to conduct thorough investigations into marine casualties, determine their causes, and make safety recommendations to prevent future incidents. These investigations aim to uncover the root causes of accidents, assess potential misconduct or negligence, and identify areas where regulations or procedures need improvement.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Determine the cause of the casualty:
The MBI investigates all aspects of the incident, including pre-accident events, regulatory compliance, crewmember duties, weather conditions, and the performance of safety equipment.
Assess potential misconduct or negligence:
The board examines whether any individual’s actions, or lack thereof, contributed to the casualty and whether those actions warrant further action, such as suspension and revocation of licenses or penalties.
Develop safety recommendations:
Based on the findings, the MBI proposes corrective actions, including potential regulatory changes, procedural improvements, or changes to training and equipment.
Improve maritime safety:
The ultimate goal of the MBI is to enhance overall maritime safety by learning from past incidents and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In essence, the MBI serves as a critical mechanism for the USCG to learn from marine casualties, improve safety standards, and maintain the integrity of the maritime transportation system.”
Release the MBI so we all can learn from this incident.
I remember the Saratoga boiler debacle much differently, but then we come from much different perspectives. Bucky was my foreman when I was an apprentice, before he went on to become superintendent. I welded on the four boilers that were welded manually, the four boilers that passed NDT and hydrostatic test without a problem. I remember a lot of secrecy around the four boilers welded with the Astro Arc process, and a lot of in-process adjustments. According to a NAVSEA engineer I spoke to often, the automated process was immature, not ready for primetime. I also lost four friends and coworkers in Mayport, Florida int he horrible car accident while we were at the shipyard retubing the boilers. So, yeah, I look at it a little differently.
If you’re interested, I published a novel a couple of years ago based on the Saratoga boiler job. It’s fiction, but all based on true events titled Once A Welder by Jim Brennan.
Another great sea story Mr Frump involving the disintegration of a US built ship.
I have another for you to investigate: the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh (CA72) which became the “longest ship” in the world when it lost its bow section in heavy seas in the Pacific toward the end of WWII but miraculously survived when the separated sections were towed to port (Bremerton I think) and reunited. Blame was placed upon faulty welding at the shipyard during construction, however, I’ve been unable to discover any details of the Naval investigation which must have surely followed given the fact that she was one of the lead ships of the new class of Baltimore heavy cruisers then under construction. I can’t find any information on punishment dished to the shipyard or workers that were involved. Did the Navy simply turn a blind eye to such egregious negligence due to wartime necessity? After all over a 1,000 men crewed the class during service.
Your editor has given your assignment, get to work! Maybe it could be developed into a book and USNI would be interested in publishing it. They enjoy good sea yarns.
I knew Suzanne in Highschool when she was an aspiring poet and dabbled in photographer. Suzanne was gorgeous and statuesque and kind. She helped me get through high school but we lost touch and many years have passed. She was an amazing woman, even in high school. My thoughts are of her and best wishes for her famly.
Bob, we are friends of Diane and Bill and have seen you over the years. We are so sorry that Suzanne’s long health battles have come to this sad ending. The piece that Sarah wrote about her mother was lovely. Quite a tribute. I was a freshman at Conn College in 1966, but never met Suzanne back then. We are so sorry for your loss of Suzanne.
Suzie and Crawford Hill
I have told the story of this ship to many people through the years. While studying for and receiving my BS in Winemaking from Fresno State University in 1973, 1974 I worked in the cellar at a COOP Winery just south of Fresno. I loaded a good number of bulk tanker trucks with wine destined for the Port of Stockton where there were storage tanks holding the wine for transshipment on the SS Angelo Petri. At the time there was still a good bit of bulk wine being shipped east to bottlers using rail bulk tank cars. By the end of the 70s most of or nearly all of the large bottling only plants had shut down. Instead wineries were bottling and shipping as case goods. This coincided with the shift from desert wines to table wines in the California Wine industry which required a higher degree of care in shipping.
Hello Mr. Frump I am writing a book about my father and I found out he was scheduled to be on the Marine Electric before it sunk. I’m not a professional writer but in case I do publish the book I want to make sure I follow the correct protocol and get the appropriate permissions before moving forward. (He did work on that ship in 1982 so he knew Captain Cusick Susan Leitao
There are many merchant vessels who have sunk with the loss of many Mariners to transport commerce throughout our states. Let us know forget the crew and Members whose lives were lost from the SS marine electric. It is on my calendar and I think about them every year.
A very helpful summary, and great to have it laid out so clearly.! Glad to know modern technology is doing something more useful than helping us buy stuff!
You continue present the most interesting and comprehensive material. Good for all of us.??
sorry I am a little late, Marci has some health issues we are dealing with.
Brian
Just finished reading your book. Now thinking about visiting the memorial in person. Thank you.
I’ve read through some of these vessels inspections. Only small infractions. Well I can tell you tell the Coast Gusrd to take their blinders off , there inspections are really shoddy and poor. Cherry picking. Do your job. A dive vessel should have more crew members, especially a night watch
The MV Conception incident occurred on September 2, 2019. The MBI still has not been released, this is unexceptable. I’ve been told for the past year it’s all ready, just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
Marine Board of Inquiry as described by AI
AI Overview:
I have to ask how is the U.S. Coast Guard suppose to learn and teach from this incident if they can’t release their findings? Shouldn’t both the industry and the U.S. Coast Guard be able to learn from their findings?
“The primary purpose of a USCG Marine Board of Inquiry (MBI) is to conduct thorough investigations into marine casualties, determine their causes, and make safety recommendations to prevent future incidents. These investigations aim to uncover the root causes of accidents, assess potential misconduct or negligence, and identify areas where regulations or procedures need improvement.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Determine the cause of the casualty:
The MBI investigates all aspects of the incident, including pre-accident events, regulatory compliance, crewmember duties, weather conditions, and the performance of safety equipment.
Assess potential misconduct or negligence:
The board examines whether any individual’s actions, or lack thereof, contributed to the casualty and whether those actions warrant further action, such as suspension and revocation of licenses or penalties.
Develop safety recommendations:
Based on the findings, the MBI proposes corrective actions, including potential regulatory changes, procedural improvements, or changes to training and equipment.
Improve maritime safety:
The ultimate goal of the MBI is to enhance overall maritime safety by learning from past incidents and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In essence, the MBI serves as a critical mechanism for the USCG to learn from marine casualties, improve safety standards, and maintain the integrity of the maritime transportation system.”
Release the MBI so we all can learn from this incident.
This is great and looking forward to the next installment, thanks!!
I remember the Saratoga boiler debacle much differently, but then we come from much different perspectives. Bucky was my foreman when I was an apprentice, before he went on to become superintendent. I welded on the four boilers that were welded manually, the four boilers that passed NDT and hydrostatic test without a problem. I remember a lot of secrecy around the four boilers welded with the Astro Arc process, and a lot of in-process adjustments. According to a NAVSEA engineer I spoke to often, the automated process was immature, not ready for primetime. I also lost four friends and coworkers in Mayport, Florida int he horrible car accident while we were at the shipyard retubing the boilers. So, yeah, I look at it a little differently.
If you’re interested, I published a novel a couple of years ago based on the Saratoga boiler job. It’s fiction, but all based on true events titled Once A Welder by Jim Brennan.
Hope you read my whole article! It’s not pro Astro-Arc and weighs in pretty heavy on the workers’ side (though it doesn’t lede that way)
Another great sea story Mr Frump involving the disintegration of a US built ship.
I have another for you to investigate: the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh (CA72) which became the “longest ship” in the world when it lost its bow section in heavy seas in the Pacific toward the end of WWII but miraculously survived when the separated sections were towed to port (Bremerton I think) and reunited. Blame was placed upon faulty welding at the shipyard during construction, however, I’ve been unable to discover any details of the Naval investigation which must have surely followed given the fact that she was one of the lead ships of the new class of Baltimore heavy cruisers then under construction. I can’t find any information on punishment dished to the shipyard or workers that were involved. Did the Navy simply turn a blind eye to such egregious negligence due to wartime necessity? After all over a 1,000 men crewed the class during service.
Your editor has given your assignment, get to work! Maybe it could be developed into a book and USNI would be interested in publishing it. They enjoy good sea yarns.
Best, Mike Varley
Like a fine bottle of red, she only got stronger with time. Not every ship pairs so well with resilience.
I had heard about the sacketts harbor being a power station, but didn’t know about the wine movements. So cool.
Thanks for a great story
An excellent story, thank you!
I’d love to be added to this wonderful list: Red Clay, by Charles B. Fancher, historical novel from Blackstone Publishing, February 2025.
If the title reflects the podcast, Maeve has the balance right. From GMF, author of Run The Storm)
Thanks hon.
So sorry for your loss Bob.
Glen Jackson
RIP, Suzanne
All the best,
Mike V
I am very sorry for your loss. Beautiful tribute.
I knew Suzanne in Highschool when she was an aspiring poet and dabbled in photographer. Suzanne was gorgeous and statuesque and kind. She helped me get through high school but we lost touch and many years have passed. She was an amazing woman, even in high school. My thoughts are of her and best wishes for her famly.
Bob, we are friends of Diane and Bill and have seen you over the years. We are so sorry that Suzanne’s long health battles have come to this sad ending. The piece that Sarah wrote about her mother was lovely. Quite a tribute. I was a freshman at Conn College in 1966, but never met Suzanne back then. We are so sorry for your loss of Suzanne.
Suzie and Crawford Hill
I have told the story of this ship to many people through the years. While studying for and receiving my BS in Winemaking from Fresno State University in 1973, 1974 I worked in the cellar at a COOP Winery just south of Fresno. I loaded a good number of bulk tanker trucks with wine destined for the Port of Stockton where there were storage tanks holding the wine for transshipment on the SS Angelo Petri. At the time there was still a good bit of bulk wine being shipped east to bottlers using rail bulk tank cars. By the end of the 70s most of or nearly all of the large bottling only plants had shut down. Instead wineries were bottling and shipping as case goods. This coincided with the shift from desert wines to table wines in the California Wine industry which required a higher degree of care in shipping.
Hello Mr. Frump I am writing a book about my father and I found out he was scheduled to be on the Marine Electric before it sunk. I’m not a professional writer but in case I do publish the book I want to make sure I follow the correct protocol and get the appropriate permissions before moving forward. (He did work on that ship in 1982 so he knew Captain Cusick Susan Leitao
Happy to help in any way I can.
Bob,
Thanks for keeping the memory of the crew alive and the tragic tale. The sea will always be the sea, very greedy if you make a mistake.
Keith Fawcett
There are many merchant vessels who have sunk with the loss of many Mariners to transport commerce throughout our states. Let us know forget the crew and Members whose lives were lost from the SS marine electric. It is on my calendar and I think about them every year.
Bob. Thank you for keeping their memory. You are a good man.
A very helpful summary, and great to have it laid out so clearly.! Glad to know modern technology is doing something more useful than helping us buy stuff!
Good news! Quality operations cost nothing in the long run.
Great report. Thank you for staying on top of the issues that matter. Your work has made a difference.
You continue present the most interesting and comprehensive material. Good for all of us.??
sorry I am a little late, Marci has some health issues we are dealing with.
Brian
Excellent coverage of a debacle that could have been prevented.