Fire on Board the Liberian Passenger Ship Ecstasy, Miami, Florida ...

92 Marine Accident ReportAppendix FSafety Recommendations on Call SystemsIn a 1993 special investigation report concerning passenger ship accidents, 50 theBoard made the following safety recommendation to the Coast Guard:M-93-39Analyze the desirability and feasibility of equipping passenger staterooms with anemergency call system by which trapped passengers can signal their plight.The Coast Guard ultimately advised the Safety Board that it had discussed thedesirability and feasibility of installing emergency call systems in passenger stateroomswith the SOLAS Working Group on <strong>Fire</strong> Protection and, based upon that discussion,determined that “an additional emergency call system would not improve passenger-tocrewcommunications and would require additional maintenance.”The Safety Board disagreed with the Coast Guard’s actions and, on May 21, 1997,classified Safety Recommendation M-93-39 “Closed—Unacceptable Action,” based, inpart, on the Coast Guard’s failure to perform the analysis requested.Following its investigation of the fire on the Universe Explorer, the Safety Boardasked that both the Coast Guard and the ICCL take actions regarding emergency callsystems on cruise ships. The Safety Board issued the following recommendation to theCoast Guard:M-98-32Recommend to the IMO that passenger and crew cabins on cruise ships berequired to be equipped with an emergency call system so that people trappedduring a fire emergency have a means of signaling their location.On October 16, 1998, the Coast Guard responded that it would discuss theavailable options for any necessary improvements with the SOLAS working group on fireprotection and will propose changes to the IMO, if appropriate. The Safety Boardfollowed up by advising the Coast Guard that the current regulations were not sufficient inthe event of a fire with heavy smoke. Based on the Coast Guard’s indicating that it wouldwork with the SOLAS working group, the Safety Board classified M-98-32 “Open—Acceptable Response.”The Safety Board issued the following recommendation to the ICCL:50 For additional information, read Special Investigation Report—Accidents Involving Foreign Passenger ShipsOperating from U.S. Ports 1990-1991 (NTSB/SIR-93/01).