On July 5, 2023, a fire broke out on the Italian flagged cargo vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio while it was at Berth 18 in Port Newark, New Jersey. The Coast Guard, along with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Newark Fire Department, responded to the incident, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two Newark firefighters. The fire lasted five days, causing an estimated $23 million in damages.
Following the incident, the Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis released a Report of Investigation (ROI). This report includes five safety and six administrative recommendations, along with findings of concern regarding the event. A Commandant’s Final Action Memorandum detailing the Coast Guard’s responses to these recommendations is also included in the ROI.
The ROI and additional information can be accessed through the U.S. Coast Guard’s official website. For those interested in the formal hearing proceedings related to the investigation, further details are available on the Coast Guard’s Northeast District site. The investigation underscores the ongoing commitment to safety and accountability in maritime operations.
