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

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Factual Information 30 Marine Accident Reportaddress the reliability problems with the high-speed breaker auxiliary voltagesupply arrangement that was installed aboard Ecstasy.In its response, LR states:The high speed circuit breakers to which you refer are those on the motor side ofthe cycloconverters through which the motors receive their power. The voltage(s)supplied from MS 21 appear, from the manufacturer’s data, to be primarily for theelectrical closure of the circuit breakers.…after this fire, we were informed that the voltage supply from MS 21 is alsoused, internally within the cycloconverter, to provide a “circuit breaker closed”signal in order to “enable” the drives to start and to continue operating.The details of these internal connections were not provided to LR during LR’splan approval, and LR’s surveys of the vessel’s construction. Therefore, LR wasnot aware, prior to this casualty, that if these cables were burnt through propulsionwould be lost.LR receives “design” plans for consideration at or before the time of constructionof the vessel. It is these plans that our surveyors review and stamp “approved”against applicable classification requirements. Upon completion of construction“as built” plans are forwarded to LR for record purposes.We have checked the Ecstasy design plans approved by LR at the time ofconstruction and the “as built” plans forwarded to us for record purposes. Neithershow the detailed matters referred to in your letter.There have been no rule changes made since 1987 which address specifically highspeed breaker auxiliary voltage supply arrangements similar to those installedaboard Ecstasy. However, based on the experience gained over the years of whatwas in 1987 an innovative design, the Rules have been changed to take intoconsideration commonality of electrical supplies.U.S. Coast Guard Examinations. The United States requires that ships thatembark passengers from U.S. ports be examined by the Coast Guard for “substantialcompliance” with the construction, equipment, and safety requirements of SOLAS. TheCoast Guard examinations are referred to as Control Verification Examinations (CVEs).These examination procedures are contained in the Coast Guard’s Navigation and VesselInspection Circular (NVIC) No. 1-93, which provides guidance regarding examinationsfor foreign cruise ship operators. The examination process involves three phases: an initialCVE, which is a plan review of new or existing vessels; an annual CVE, which is a reviewof the vessel’s firefighting, lifesaving and emergency systems; and a quarterly CVE,which is a safety review of the vessel’s operations. As of July 1,1998, the Coast Guard’sexamination for passenger vessels included International Safety Management (ISM) Codeprovisions, which are discussed later in this report, under “International SafetyRequirements.”
Factual Information 31 Marine Accident ReportBefore the July 1998 fire, the Ecstasy had undergone its last annual CVE onMay 1, 1998. Coast Guard documents indicate no discrepancies were found during theCVE.Waterway InformationThe Port of Miami is the largest embarkation port for cruise ships in the UnitedStates, handling more than 3.1 million passengers annually. It is home port to 18 cruiseships. Carnival, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Internationalregularly operate cruise vessels from the Port of Miami.From Pier 8, the Ecstasy’s point of departure, to the harbor entrance, the channelsand their respective dredged depths are as follows: Main Channel, 36 feet; Inner Bar Cut,44 feet; Outer Bar Cut, 44 feet; and Government Cut, 42 feet. The widths of the channelsvary from 400 to 600 feet. At Government Cut, two unmarked jetties protect the harborentrance. Strong tidal currents run between the jetties. A northerly wind in the area causesa considerable southerly set 27 across the ends of the jetties. The mean range of the tide atthe harbor entrance is 2.5 feet. Shoals extend about a mile offshore northward of theharbor entrance. Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign-registered vessels and is suppliedby Biscayne Bay Pilots.Meteorological InformationAt the time of the accident, the weather was cloudy with rainsqualls. Winds werevariable and out of the East/Northeast at 15-20 knots, producing waves of 1 to 2 feet.Visibility in the rainsqualls was limited to 1-2 miles; otherwise, visibility was unlimited.No thunderstorms were in the vicinity.OperationsGeneralCarnival Cruise Lines’ parent company, Carnival Corporation, owns or has interestin seven cruise brands that operate as separate companies. The corporation has fullownership in Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland-America Line, Windstar Cruises, CunardLine, Seabourne Cruise Line, and Costa Crocierw S.p.A and minority ownership inAirtours’ Sun Cruises. Combined, these lines operate 48 cruise ships. CarnivalCorporation is scheduled to add 13 ships to its fleet by the end of 2005.27 Set is the direction in which the current flows.
Page 1: PB2001-916401NTSB/MAR-01/01NATIONAL
Page 4 and 5: National Transportation Safety Boar
Page 6 and 7: Contents iv Marine Accident ReportS
Page 8 and 9: viMarine Accident ReportAcronyms an
Page 10 and 11: viiiMarine Accident ReportExecutive
Page 12 and 13: Factual Information 2 Marine Accide
Page 20 and 21: Factual Information 10 Marine Accid
Page 65 and 66: 55 Marine Accident ReportAnalysisGe
Page 67 and 68: Analysis 57 Marine Accident ReportT
Page 69 and 70: Analysis 59 Marine Accident Reportf
Page 71 and 72: Analysis 61 Marine Accident Reports
Page 73 and 74: Analysis 63 Marine Accident Reporti
Page 75 and 76: Analysis 65 Marine Accident ReportA
Page 77 and 78: Analysis 67 Marine Accident ReportF
Page 81 and 82: Analysis 71 Marine Accident ReportM
Page 85 and 86: Analysis 75 Marine Accident ReportI
Page 87 and 88: Conclusions 77 Marine Accident Repo
Page 89 and 90: Recommendations 79 Marine Accident
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Recommendations 81 Marine Accident
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84 Marine Accident ReportAppendix B
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Appendix B 86 Marine Accident Repor
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Appendix C 88 Marine Accident Repor
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Appendix D 90 Marine Accident Repor
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92 Marine Accident ReportAppendix F
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Fire on Board the Liberian Passenger Ship Ecstasy, Miami, Florida ...

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