Page 70 - MARINAOFTHEYEAR

CHALLENGE FIVE: Boat Explosions
We don’t prevent fire, we prevent sparks. Since you only need three things for an explosion;
Oxygen, Gas Fumes, and a Spark, on every day of the week we are 2/3rds of the way to an explosion. That’s
an awful thought, but every fuel dock, including ours, should focus all attention on one thing,
prevent the spark. If this is smoking, flames, or static electricity, focus on this.

We have had 5 boat fires/explosions over the years. In 1976, the fire destroyed our gas dock
and three slips. In 1985 we had a houseboat explode. In 1986 there was a contained fire on an
18’ boat. We had another fire around 2005 from someone who decided to change the fuel filter
on his boat and the coffee can with gas caught on fire, so he threw it off the boat, into the water
and in the process started the dock and canvas of the next boat on fire. And finally, the boat
explosion of 2009.

Here’s the deal. Explosions have changed since 1970. Well, explosions haven’t changed, the
players at the table have changed. That’s your insurance company and the personal injury
attorneys. This is the biggest piece of advice we can offer. Do not waste your time and energy
worrying about the outcome. The result will not change and from our experience the monetary
decision is quickly determined at the beginning of the process. You can run the best and most
outstanding business, but when you are in the middle of an accident and you have the largest
insurance policy, get familiar with the “deepest pockets” phrase. The maintenance condition of
the boat or the sobriety of the passengers has very little effect on the outcome, the largest
insurance policy will do the heavy lifting.

It sounds harsh, but this is the truth.

What did we learn? The way for any marina to prepare is to prevent sparks and maintain an
excellent relationship with your insurance agent for proper coverage. Do what you can to
document and prevent. Regular safety training in the use of fire extinguishers and repeated
training of emergency procedures including mock fire drills are your best defense. We now use
MYMIC to help us with documentation and prevention. When the explosion occurs, shut up.
Everyone has a video camera on their phone. Simply call 911 and reduce your exposure.
Document where everyone is and what their job was because this simple paper list will
eliminate the people they need to track down for interviews as witnesses. You need to control
your message. Prior to the explosion have a plan as to who will communicate with the news
media. All of these things must be determined ahead of time. During the emergency is not a
great time to deal with these items, you need an emergency protocol in place.

There is a non-disclosure as a part of the insurance settlement of 2009. This is unfortunate in
the respect that we cannot share with our industry colleagues how to avoid what happened to us.
But again, it’s the hardest advice to follow, especially when you are a small business owner, but
do whatever you can to not let the explosion consume your life. You must keep moving forward
as a business. Let your insurance agency handle it. With 57 seasons of experience, take this
for what it’s worth. Spend all of your time focused on proper coverage, preventing sparks, and
running through emergency drills. Sadly, marina fires are not a matter of “if” they are a matter
of “when”.

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