USCG Slams Splendors CO2 System
Carnival Respond Their Systems Are Satisfactory?
By Mike Groves
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) have released their initial report concerning the recent Carnival Splendor fire and their reports are highly critical of the actions surrounding the fire at sea that disabled the vessel on 8th November 2010. Albeit these are just initial reports and Carnivals name is not shown on the paperwork, the Coast Guard has apparently confirmed to marine industry publication, Professional Mariner that these do in fact relate to the Splendor fire. In short they have basically slammed Carnival as being utterly negligent in my eyes.
The reports can be viewed here
It may be the time of year for Christmas cheer however the passengers whose holidays were ruined, and almost some of their lives for that matter are not happy! Reports state many of the passengers who were aboard the Carnival Splendor were incensed on learning these initial findings and how the ship's Master, and his crew, were unable to manage a relatively simple automated fire suppression system.
In recent years Carnival Cruise Lines have experienced a number of high profile fires and it really calls in to question their ability to self manage their own vessels. Has the time come for this particular cruise line to be subjected to more closer examination by a number of bodies?
These fires have included the Carnival Celebration in June 1995 and which forced 1,700 passengers to evacuate the vessel. In July 1998 the Carnival Ecstasy caught fire and it was only by the grace of god that fireboats were on hand to extinguish the fire. Damage exceeded $17 million and pictures from the time were frightening to say the least. Just a little over a year later in September 1999, the Carnival Tropicale was left the ship adrift in the Gulf of Mexico for two days with 1,700 passengers and crew after the fire disabled her engines.
Now it appears that since her launch, no officers of crew, indeed no one within the company realized that the instruction manual held on the bridge did not match the actual fire suppression system they had on board! This company's continual stupidity does astound me more and more every day.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been investigating the fire that disabled the 113,300 ton Carnival Splendor since November although they are lucky to be investigating the incident at all. If Carnival had their way the USCG would have got nowhere near the vessel. Very soon after the fire it was no surprise to hear that Carnival declined offers by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate this incident, preferring to turn the matter over to the Panama Maritime Authority, the country where the vessel is registered. WELL well well, no surprise there then, Carnival trying to keep things out of sight and out of mind no doubt? Unfortunately for Carnival Cruise Lines the Coast Guard don’t get pushed around so easily, insisting on joining the investigation and where Panama consented. I wonder if Carnival consented? Interesting question to ask is it not.
The NTSB also managed to get two experts to assist the Coast Guard, following their request for technical assistance. As one report rightly pointed out, and which perfectly highlights the underhand manner in which this cruise operator operates in my personal opinion, was to state the following, Any air carrier in the United States which operated in a similar manner would have questions raised about its lack of transparency, and loss of public confidence in that company's crisis management abilities. Well said!
According to the reports its findings are unequivocal and rather damning of the fire on board the Splendor. The report draws inference that the fire could easily have been controlled and extinguished, if not for the inadequacies of those on board and ultimately the company, in respect of training, maintenance and operation of the ships automated fire control system.
United States Coast Guard Slams Carnival Splendors CO2 System
Crusie Line responds with "our systems were found to be satisfactory"
By Mike Groves QGM
Cruise Bruise Security And Safety Advisor
December 29, 2010
Carnival Splendor is pushed into her her berth
The Coast Guards reports cite a number of problems with both the ship's Fire Instruction Manual and the CO2 system itself and which an authorized service provider had recently serviced. These failings include:
The FIM referred to a Control Panel that vastly differed from the one on board the Splendor.
The FIM shows the CO2 release station to be located on the starboard side of the ship when in fact it is located on the port side. This fact alone perfectly highlights gross negligence on behalf of the ships operators; it is indefensible.
The FIM manual was found to use the word "Pull" when in fact it should read "Turn" in reference to the operation of valves. Again IF this had occurred inside a smoke filled compartment it could have led to loss of life; passengers or the fire teams, the latter in all probability believing the valve to be broken walking away from a perfectly serviceable system.
The FIM manual was found to contain confusing language, such as: "Once the fire has been extinguished make sure that the temperature has decreased before investigate the area same time is needed to wait hours."
Numerous piping and hose connections leaked extensively.
Certain elements of the distribution manifold contained low points, thus allowing the accumulation of water inside the piping and which could not be drained appropriately. Such a scenario would ultimately lead to corrosion and lead to an ineffective operation of other components during an emergency.
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