- Federal investigators will hold several days of hearings into the Port Newark dockside cargo ship fire that killed two New Jersey firefighters last summer.
- The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation into the July 5 fire.
- The purpose of the public hearing is to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the fire and the circumstances surrounding the firefighter's death, in order to improve safety in the future.
Federal investigators will begin a multiday hearing Wednesday into the dockside cargo ship fire that killed two New Jersey firefighters last summer at one of the nation's busiest ports.
The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of a fire that started on July 5 on the Italian-owned Grande Costa D'Avolio in Port Newark. The ship had more than 1,200 cars on board.
Newark Fire Chiefs August “Augie” Akabu and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. died fighting the fire.
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According to a safety alert issued by the Coast Guard, a preliminary investigation by the Coast Guard and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicates that the Newark Fire Department has “little maritime firefighting training, experience, or knowledge on cargo ships of any type.” It is said that it was done. in November.
Emergency crews battle a fire aboard the Italian-flagged cargo ship Grande Costa D'Avolio in the Port of Newark, Newark, New Jersey, July 7, 2023. January 10, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board A series of investigative hearings will be launched into the cause of the fire, and recommendations will be made to avoid similar incidents in the future. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Commander Christian Berger, director of inspection and investigation for the 5th Coast Guard District, announced Tuesday that 13 witnesses will testify at the hearing, which continues until Jan. 18. Witnesses are expected to include the ship's crew, stevedores at the wharf, and sailors. Firefighter.
“This incident is a stark reminder that first responders and maritime personnel face significant risks every day,” he said.
He said the purpose of the hearing was “to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent deaths of firefighters Akabou and Brooks, to prevent future accidents and ensure the safety of shipping and the port area.” “It's there,” he said.
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Berger said while the cause of the fire is being determined, the investigation is not blaming anyone. Instead, it plans to issue safety recommendations beyond those contained in the Nov. 20 warning. The guidelines recommended that local fire departments and ports establish regular shipboard firefighting education and training, including language interpretation capabilities for non-English-speaking crew members.
The families of the deceased firefighters claim the fire was caused by a malfunction in a vehicle used to load cargo onto the ship. In October, they announced plans to sue the Italian company Grimaldi Group, which owns the ship, and two port shipping companies involved in loading the ship.
In October, the family's attorney announced that an investigation by his office found that the Jeep Wrangler used to push the ship's cargo had been emitting smoke from the engine compartment in the hours before the fire. . A family spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
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The lawyer criticized the performance of the two five-member firefighting teams responsible for putting out the fire. He said he failed to use fire extinguishers and hoses to extinguish the fire and also mistakenly used a carbon dioxide-based fire extinguishing system, which is designed to extinguish fires by depriving them of oxygen.
He said the door to the main garage on Deck 12 remained open while the system was activated, providing a continuous supply of oxygen to sustain the flames, rendering the fire suppression system ineffective.
Grimaldi did not respond to messages seeking comment. The company previously said the crew immediately activated onboard firefighting procedures and local firefighters were dispatched, beginning a rapid response critical to containment and control of the fire. It also announced that there were no electric vehicles or dangerous cargo on board, no fuel spills were detected, and the ship's stability was not compromised.
