2013 Cargo Ship Fire Investigation Released
The MAIB’s investigation of an accommodation fire on a United Kingdom registered general cargo ship on passage from Gibraltar to Belfast has been released.
The fire, which started after a crewmember fell asleep in bed while holding a lit cigarette, caused an electrical failure of the ship’s steering gear, and resulted in heat, smoke and water damage to the majority of the accommodation spaces. One crew member was injured and the ship was subsequently towed to Cadiz for repair.
The key safety issues identified were:
Celtic Carrier’s crew were ill-prepared for the emergency; there was a lack of leadership, and sub-standard fire-fighting techniques resulted in crew members being unnecessarily exposed to danger.
The records of some emergency drills recorded in the ship’s Official Log Book were falsified, which calls into question the validity of other records and demonstrates that a complacent approach to safety existed on board.
The ship owners need to involve its crews in the application of the SMS to ensure its success was not fully recognized.
The lack of a national database for International Safety Management Code audits constrained the Maritime and Coastguard’s ability to conduct fleet performance trend analysis, and to ensure that a consistent approach to auditing was carried out.
View the full report.