The National Transportation Safety Board has reported that the Newark ship fire aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio was caused by the use of an unsuitable vehicle for industrial work, leading to a fatal fire and $23 million in damage.
The fire broke out on July 5, 2023, while the roll-on/roll-off container vessel was docked at Port Newark, New Jersey.
A vehicle used by the cargo loading company overheated during operations and ignited on a garage deck.
Two firefighters from the Newark Fire Division died during response operations, and six others were injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board found that the fire began when a modified passenger vehicle, referred to as a pusher vehicle, overheated and ignited on a hot engine surface.
According to the report, the vehicle’s transmission fluid boiled over due to rigorous industrial use, despite not meeting Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for powered industrial trucks.
The pusher vehicle was used by Ports America to load non-running vehicles onto the vessel. The NTSB found this application inappropriate and identified it as the fire’s initiating factor.
The NTSB reported that the vessel crew attempted to fight the fire with extinguishers before activating the carbon dioxide fire suppression system.
The crew could not fully seal the garage deck because a large hydraulic door could only be operated from within the fire zone. The lack of external controls on this door rendered the suppression system ineffective.
The report stated that the design flaw prevented the fire from being contained, increasing the duration and severity of the blaze.
The NTSB concluded that firefighters from the Newark Fire Division were not adequately trained to respond to vessel fires.
According to the investigation, commanders directed firefighters into the fire zone after the CO2 system had been activated, contrary to established marine firefighting procedures. Two firefighters became disoriented and died inside the vessel.
The report said the lack of training contributed to the spread of the fire and the overall response inefficiency.
Following its investigation, the NTSB issued safety recommendations to multiple agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the US Coast Guard, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
These recommendations include requiring marine firefighting training for shore-based responders, updating vessel designs to ensure all fire boundary openings can be sealed externally, and implementing emergency procedures for shoreside workers.
The board also urged Ports America and American Maritime Services to improve employee training and account for staff in emergency scenarios.
The Newark ship fire occurred on July 5, 2023, aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio at Port Newark, New Jersey.
The National Transportation Safety Board identified the use of an unsuitable industrial vehicle as the cause.
The vehicle overheated and ignited, starting the fire on a garage deck.
The ship’s fixed CO2 suppression system was ineffective due to a door lacking external controls.
Two Newark firefighters died after entering the fire zone during the response.
Six other emergency responders were injured.
The NTSB said the firefighters were not trained in marine vessel fire response.
Ports America was found to have used a passenger vehicle not meeting OSHA industrial standards.
The board issued safety recommendations to improve firefighting training and vessel design.
Recommendations were also made for shoreside emergency procedures and regulatory updates.
The total estimated damage from the incident exceeded $23 million.
