The U.S. Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) has issued a name for improved preparedness of land-based firefighters in marine vessel firefighting, following a lethal incident aboard a roll-on/roll-off container ship at Port Newark, New Jersey, on July 5, 2023.
The fireplace, ignited by a shoreside automobile used to load vehicles onto the vessel, resulted within the deaths of two firefighters and accidents to 6 others. The ship sustained damages exceeding $23 million.
Key Findings and Security Issues
The NTSB investigation revealed that the fireplace originated from a 2008 Jeep Wrangler, repurposed as a pusher automobile, which overheated and ignited because of transmission fluid boiling over onto a sizzling engine floor. The usage of this passenger automobile as industrial tools contravened Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA) requirements.
Additional compounding the state of affairs, the ship’s crew was unable to successfully deploy the vessel’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) fireplace suppression system. The management panel to shut a big rampway door was situated inside the CO₂ launch zone, stopping protected closure and rendering the suppression system ineffective.
Suggestions for Enhanced Security
In response to those findings, the NTSB has made a number of suggestions:
To reinforce enforcement of laws regarding using powered industrial vans and emergency procedures at marine terminals.
To enhance marine vessel firefighting coaching for land-based firefighters, together with the Newark Fireplace Division, and develop complete emergency response insurance policies.
To conduct a listing of all vessels to determine fireplace boundary openings and guarantee they are often closed from outdoors protected areas.
To revise vessel plan approval procedures to ensure that fireplace boundary openings might be externally secured.
To suggest clarifications to the Worldwide Maritime Group relating to laws on closing openings in fire-protected areas, relevant each in port and at sea.
These suggestions intention to bolster the protection and effectiveness of firefighting operations on marine vessels, guaranteeing that land-based responders are adequately geared up and skilled to deal with such emergencies.
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Supply: NTSB
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