We have published our report into the fire aboard the UK registered genral cargo vessel Celtic Carrier. The fire, which started after a crew member 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 recognised. •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.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:11:26 +0000
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