NTSB To Reveal Cause Of Deadly Cargo Ship Fire That Killed Two

Grande Costa D’Avorio — Image Credits: NTSB Newsroom/X

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public meeting on April 15 to discuss the cause of the fire aboard the roll-on/roll-off container vessel Grande Costa D’Avorio, which occurred on July 5, 2023, at Port Newark, New Jersey.

The fire took the lives of two firefighters and injured six other emergency responders.

Per reports, the fire started when a pusher vehicle used by shoreside workers to move cargo ignited while the ship was being loaded on an interior garage deck.

The fire quickly spread, creating dense smoke inside the vessel. Two land-based firefighters, responding to the incident, became disoriented in the smoke-filled garage decks and lost their lives.

The meeting on April 15 will determine what caused the incident and discuss safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in future.

The board will vote on its final findings, which will be included in an official report. The meeting will be open to the public and the media, with an option to watch the proceedings live online.

A separate investigation by the US Coast Guard revealed a major issue in firefighting preparedness for maritime incidents. According to preliminary Coast Guard findings, the local fire department had little to no training or experience in handling shipboard fires.

Investigators stated that vessel fires require different firefighting techniques compared to land-based fires, and such incidents demand more resources and specialised skills.

The Coast Guard investigations also pointed out that communication challenges between the ship’s international crew and emergency responders may have added to the difficulties faced during the response.

Such barriers can become a major obstacle during high-pressure situations like fires on board vessels.

Grande Costa D’Avorio was carrying about 1,200 vehicles and 157 containers at the time of the fire. The vessel’s operator, Grimaldi Group, confirmed that there were no electric vehicles or hazardous materials in the cargo.

The Coast Guard is also preparing its report on the fire. In November 2023, it issued Marine Safety Alert 09-23, urging better coordination in marine firefighting efforts across the country.

The reports will likely change maritime emergency response strategies, especially regarding firefighting training and shipboard fire preparedness.

Reference: NTSB

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