NTSB Urges Improved Firefighter Training and Safety Protocols After Fatal Marine Vessel Fire Incident

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued recommendations for better preparedness of land-based firefighters in response to marine vessel fires, following a fatal incident on the Grande Costa D’Avorio in Newark, New Jersey. The vessel, docked at Port Newark, experienced a fire on its interior garage deck caused by a vehicle used by shoreside workers. Despite efforts to use the ship’s carbon dioxide extinguishing system, the crew faced challenges in closing a large rampway door, leading to the ineffectiveness of the system and contributing to the severity of the fire. Tragically, two land-based firefighters lost their lives, and six others were injured during the firefighting operations, with damages estimated at over $23 million.

The NTSB investigation revealed that directing firefighters to enter the area where the extinguishing system had been activated posed unnecessary risks. Furthermore, the Newark Fire Division was found to be inadequately prepared for marine vessel firefighting, lacking the necessary training. The fire was determined to have started from overheated transmission fluid in a passenger vehicle, a 2008 Jeep Wrangler, which ignited on a hot engine surface. The NTSB made recommendations to improve enforcement of safety standards and emergency procedures at marine terminals to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In response to the findings, the NTSB issued recommendations to various organizations, including OSHA, the Newark Fire Division, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to enhance land-based firefighting departments’ training and readiness for marine vessel fires. Additionally, recommendations were made to vessel owners and classification societies to ensure the proper closure of fire boundary openings and to the US Coast Guard to propose clarifications to international safety regulations. The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum also published guidelines to improve fire response protocols on vehicle-carrying vessels, emphasizing safety for crews, passengers, and the environment.

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