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

Factual Information 4 Marine Accident ReportIn the meantime, another galley fitter (second fitter) had finished checking a pumpon one of the ship’s Jacuzzis and was preparing to go off duty at 1730 when the galleyengineer told him to help the first fitter in the main laundry. The second fitter said thatwhen he arrived in the main laundry, the first fitter was adjusting a bolt on the mangle.The second fitter said that the first fitter tightened a bolt on the mangle so muchthat the bolt broke off. Both fitters testified that the first fitter decided to weld the boltback in place. They said that the first fitter went to the fitters’ workshop to get thenecessary equipment, which included a portable welding machine, welding rods, helmets,gloves, and tools. The second fitter said that he went to get an asbestos (fire) blanket fromthe machine shop area. Both fitters testified that, at this time, they did not obtain a “hotwork permit,” as required by Carnival Cruise Lines’ Safety Management System (SMS)procedures, 4 because “it was standard procedure” to set up the equipment before callingthe staff chief engineer to get a permit and to arrange for a fire watch.The first fitter said that the location of the bolt, between the roller bed and the endplate on the mangle cabinet, was difficult to reach for welding. The second fitter statedthat when he returned to the main laundry, the first fitter was lying on top of the mangle,aligning the broken bolt. The welding machine was on a table next to the mangle. (Seefigure 3.) The second fitter said, “I saw the welding unit on the table and the welding rod[cable] and ground cable were sitting on top of the panel to the mangle….” He stated thatthe ground cable was not connected to anything. The first fitter said that he had pluggedthe welding unit into an electrical outlet and had inserted a welding rod (electrode) into therod holder. 5The second fitter climbed on top of the table next to the mangle. He said that,because the welding rod was hanging near the deck, he pulled the cable toward him. Hethen saw the welding rod come in contact with either the grounding clamp or the mangle,causing a spark. The second fitter testified that dryer lint was on the floor. The first fittersaid that while he was looking down through the rollers of the mangle, he saw “a verysmall fire” on the floor and “yelled out” about a fire on the deck. Both fitters said that theyjumped to the deck, went to the nearby sink, and got a glass of water, which they used toput out the fire underneath the mangle.The second fitter testified that he saw fire “in the middle of the mangle” andretrieved a fire extinguisher, which he directed on the mangle. The first fitter testified thathe saw “big flames” in the ventilation duct immediately above the mangle and that he tooka CO 2 fire extinguisher and directed its spray into the overhead vent. He estimated that hebattled the fire for about 5 minutes but had to abandon the firefighting effort because thelaundry room was filled with smoke. Both fitters testified that when the fire alarms beganto sound, they left the laundry and went to their emergency stations.4 For further information about Carnival Cruise Lines’ SMS and the required procedures for companypersonnel, see “Operations,” later in this report.5 The welding machine used by the fitters, a Unitor Miniweld model, did not have an on-off switch. Theunit was energized when it was plugged in. The specifications for the Miniweld states that it “conforms tothe Norwegian Maritime Directorate’s rules for welding apparatus on board ships.” Unitor has sincediscontinued manufacturing this model.