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JHON POPE Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator Panama Maritime Authority Directorate General of Merchant Marine Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department Panama, Republic of Panama PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE FIRE ABOARD THE DIVE SUPPORT VESSEL DSV” AMERICAN CONSTITUTION” ON MARCH 23 RD 2007, WHILE ALONSIDE AT R&R SHIPYARD, PORT AURTUR, TEXAS, USA

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Page 1: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY

INVESTIGATION INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE FIRE ABOARD

THE DIVE SUPPORT VESSEL

DSV” AMERICAN CONSTITUTION”

ON MARCH 23RD 2007, WHILE ALONSIDE AT R&R SHIPYARD, PORT AURTUR, TEXAS, USA

Page 2: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

2

Accident Reporting and Investigation

The fundamental purpose of investigating an accident under these Regulations is To determine its circumstances and the cause with the aim of improving the safety of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future. It is not the purpose to

apportion liability, nor, except so as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose, to apportion blame.

Page 3: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 4 BACKGROUND OF EVENTS 5 SECTION 1 FACTUAL INFORMATION 1.1 Particulars of the American Constitution and Accident 5/6 1.2 Narrative 6/7 1.3 Description of vessel 7

1.3.1 Diver’s Quarters Arrangement 7 1.3.2 Emergency Escape Scuttles 7 1.3.3 Permit to Work (PTW) System 8

1.4 Vessel Certification 8 1.5 Crew Details 8 SECTION 2 ANALYSIS 2.1 Aim 9 2.2 Cause of Fire 9 2.3 Extent of Damage 9 SECTION 3 CONCLUSIONS 3.1 Cause 10 3.2 Contributory Factors 10 3.3 Findings 10 SECTION 4 RECOMMENDATIONS 11 SECTION 5 APPENDIX 1 12 Figure 1 Photograph of the MV American Constitution Figure 2 Diagram of Diving Quarters Figure 3 Photograph of Existing Escape Scuttles Figure 4 Photograph of Escape Scuttles Modifications Figure 5 Permit to Work Figure 6 Photograph of Damage Figure 7 Photograph of Damage Figure 8 Photograph of Damage Figure 9 Photograph of Damage Figure 10 Photograph of Damage

Page 4: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

4

SECTION 5 APPENDIX 2 a) USDHS-REPORT OF MARINE ACCIDENT(Sec I,II,III) ( 2 page) b) CDI ISM INCIDENT REPORT FORM ( 1 page) c) USCG MSO PORT ARTHUR WITNESS STATEMENT( 5 pages)

GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS PTW - Permit to Work ISM - International Safety Management ISPS - Ship and Port Facility Security Code EHS - Environmental Health & Safety PIC - Person in Charge RP - Responsible Person

Page 5: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

5

BACKGROUND OF EVENTS : At 1100 ship’s time on 23 March 2007, the Panama registered dive support vessel “American Constitution” suffered an accommodation fire while alongside at R & R Shipyard, Port Arthur, Texas, with 21 crew and an unknown number of shipyard personnel onboard. The vessel was undergoing annual class inspections and class recommended repairs to the hull and machinery. Welding was being carried out on the deck by the shipyard personnel when a fire broke out in the diver’s quarters below deck, initial action by the ships crew was effective in eventually extinguishing the fire. The investigation was ordered by the Panama Maritime Authority(Authorization granted on 4/05/2007 by AMP Marine Casualty Dept. Mr.Alfonso Castillero) and entrusted to Coastal Marine and Eng. John Pope to determine the facts surrounding the incident and report on the same. The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the lead investigating surveyor. SECTION 1 FACTUAL INFORMATION 1.1 VESSEL PARTICULARS OF MV “AMERICAN CONSTITUTION” Name : American Constitution Flag : Panama Classification : Isthmus Maritime Classification Class No. : 024/02/IMC IMO No. : 7734595 Call Sign : HP 2029 Type of Vessel : Dive Support Vessel Gross Tons: 951 T Net Tons : 285 T Deadweight (DWT) : 927 lT Length (LOA) : 210.00 FT (56.42 M) Breadth (Molded) : 40.00 FT (12.16 M) Depth (Molded) : 17.00 FT (5.18 M) Date Built : 1974 Place Built : Burton Shipyard, Port Arthur, TX USA Owner : Cal Dive International 1902 Diver Drive New Iberia, Louisiana 70560 Operator : CALDIVE INTERNATIONAL(CDI) Address : 1902 Divers Drive Port Of Iberia ,New Iberia La 70560 USA Propulsion : Diesel Reduction Horsepower : 7,200 hp @ 119 rpm Master : Capt. Arturo Hernandez

Page 6: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

6

FIRE ACCIDENT DETAILS Time and Date : Approximately 11:00 Ships time on 23rd March 2007 Location of Incident : R&R Shipyard, Port Arthur, TX, USA Location of Fire : Divers Quarters (lower deck) Persons Onboard : 21 Crew Members Unknown # of Shipyard personnel Injuries / Fatalities : (3) Crew members, smoke inhalation Damage : Fire, smoke and water damage sustained to the lower deck

Diver’s Quarters (4 cabins total) 1.2 NARRATIVE

Eng. John Pope arrived onboard the vessel on April 5th 2007 at approximately 08:00 hrs. The vessel was securely moored starboard side alongside at the R&R Shipyard, Port Arthur, Texas USA. On March 9th 2007, the dive support vessel M.V. American Constitution arrived at R&R Shipyard, Port Arthur, Texas to carry out the Class SS for hull and machinery. During the inspection several conditions of class were being addressed by attending Class Surveyor as well as some additional items. One of these items was the requirement that existing (2) two watertight scuttle’s need to raised to meet minimum height requirements (LL Conv 1966). These scuttles are located on the forward main deck area and are designated as emergency escape hatches for the port and starboard diving quarters, located below main deck. On March 23rd, 2007, welding was being carried out by the shipyard on the back deck, wheelhouse and in the engine room (see Permits to Work dated 23-March-2007). No specific permit to work was filled out for work on the Diving Quarters Escape Hatches. It was reported that after the shipyard welders completed their work on the back deck, they took it upon themselves to move their equipment to the forward main deck area just aft of the accommodation bulkhead, and to begin cutting off the existing starboard escape scuttle accessing the starboard side diver’s quarters. As a result, the insulation between the false ceiling and the ceiling panels caught fire and spread down onto the mattresses and bunks located below. At approximately, 11:00 hrs a fire was reported inside the diving quarters, the fire alarm was sounded, and the USCG and fire department were notified. At 11:05 hrs the ship’s crew responded with rigged fire hoses and CO2 bottles, and operating companies Marine Department was notified.

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JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

7

At 11:20 hrs the fire was put out and the fire crew was placed on stand-by for potential re-flash. At 11:30 hrs the Port Arthur Fire Department and Paramedics arrived on the scene. At 11:35 hrs the Fire Department completed their fire and damage assessment. At approximately 12:00 hrs (3) three crew members were taken to the hospital due to smoke inhalation and kept for observation. At 12:30 hrs, the vessel was cleared by the local Fire Department, for the crew & shipyard personnel to re-board the vessel. Note : All times indicated in this report are expressed as local Central Standard Time, on the Twenty four hour clock.

1.3 DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL

The vessel American Constitution is a 210 foot, four point moored diving support ship owned and operated by Cal Dive International (Figure 1). The vessel has a 10 man, 1,000 foot depth rated saturation dive system and 75 Ton hydraulic pedestal crane. The diving bell is launched through a custom moon pool and the ship is outfitted with a hyperbaric rescue chamber . The four point mooring system is capable of anchoring in up to 400 feet of water, and with the use of an anchor handling vessel, can moor in depths up to 800 feet. The vessel’s main propulsion engines are (2) Alco 18-251 four stroke diesel engines rated at 3,600 HP. Maintenance records were found all to date with no reports of major problems.

At the time of incident, the vessel was in ballasted condition. Class surveyor was carrying out Special Survey # 2 .

1.3.1 Diver’s Quarters Arrangement

The vessel has the accommodations to sleep a total of 40 men which includes crew accommodations for 20 men, and a lower deck port and starboard diver’s quarters that also accommodates 20 men (Figure 2).

1.3.2 Emergency Escape Scuttles The diver’s quarters are located on the lower deck, and are fitted with (2) two port and

starboard emergency escape scuttles (Figure 3) exiting upward onto the main deck area just aft of the galley main deck transverse bulkhead via escape ladders. Two (2) escape ladders are fitted to the longitudinal bulkhead dividing the port and starboard cabins, and extend

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JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

8

upward from the upper bunks through the false ceiling. The escape hatch modifications included adding (2) new raised watertight scuttles as recommended by class (Figure 4).

1.3.3 Permit to Work (PTW) System The vessel’s marine safety manual EH-MA03 revision 6, references the companies EHS

manual section 8.26 Permit to Work procedures. The reasons for requiring a PTW are listed as follows :

• To ensure that effective control is maintained on the types of work known to have

inherent risk, hazards, dangers, or perils. • Requires competent personnel, usually the supervisor over the work area, the foreman

over the work carried out, and the Vessel Master to analyze the job and list all required safety precautions to be taken on the permit to work.

• Assures the persons in charge, and ultimately responsible for safety on the work site,

usually the Vessel’s Master, Superintendent, Department Manager/Supervisor and/or the OIM have given their permission for the work to be done.

A permit to work is required for Hot Work, where on marine vessels a PTW is only required when the hot work presents a potential hazard of fire or explosion. The vessel issued (2) PTW’s on March 23rd 2007 for welding and burning on the back deck (Figure 5). Each morning prior to commencing work the shipyard welder (Person in Charge) meets with the Master or 1st Officer (Responsible Person) and is briefed on where he will be working, discuss any potential hazards, and signs the PTW acknowledging that he understands the conditions of the PTW. A dedicated fire watch (ships crew) is also assigned to the job until it is completed. A permit to work was never issued for hot work at or around the diver quarters escape scuttles located on the forward main deck.

1.4 VESSEL CERTIFICATION All regulatory and statutory as well as Class certificates were found valid and all annual

endorsements were found up to date. The vessel was found to be in compliance with the Panamanian Minimum Safe Manning certificate. The ISM (SMC/DOC) and ISPS (ISSC) certification was also valid and the Safety Management manual was found onboard.

Page 9: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

9

1.5 CREW DETAILS The Master of the MV “American Constitution” Captain Arturo Hernandez is Mexican

national. Captain Hernandez is licensed by the governments of Mexico and has an endorsement issued by Panama as a Master.

Captain Hernandez’s Panamanian Master’s and G.M.D.S.S. endorsements were both valid, as

well as his National COC and GMDSS GO. All of the officers and ratings were holding valid Panamanian endorsements, their National

certificates of competencies were also all found valid . SECTION 2 - ANALYSIS

2.1 AIM The purpose of the analysis is to determine the contributory causes and circumstances of the

accident, as a basis for making recommendations to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.

2.2 CAUSE OF THE FIRE In this case, the fire was caused by the shipyard welders, who were cutting off the existing

starboard escape scuttle for the divers quarters, when a spark ignited the insulation between the false ceiling and spread down to the mattresses located below.

2.2 EXTENT OF DAMAGE

The diver’s quarters were badly damaged by the fire, smoke and water. The aft starboard 6 man cabin experienced the brunt of the fire burning the mattresses and wooden bunks inside (figures 6-10), The false ceiling and insulation was also badly damaged in all four cabins. The remaining (3) three cabins also experienced heavy smoke and water damage, to every thing inside including bunks, mattresses, sheets and linens. Nine (9) diver’s reported damage to their personnel belongings, that were in the diver’s quarters at the time of the fire.

Page 10: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

10

SECTION 3 - CONCLUSIONS 3.1 CAUSE

1. The fire was caused by the shipyard welders, who were cutting off the starboard escape scuttle from the divers quarters, when a spark ignited the insulation between the false ceiling and spread down to the mattresses located below (2.2).

3.2 CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS

1. The shipyard welders took it upon themselves to begin cutting off the existing main

deck starboard emergency escape scuttle prior to getting a permit to work from the vessel, which would have prevented the fire from occurring.

• Had a permit to work been initiated prior to performing hot work on the emergency

escape scuttle’s the unknown hazards, such as insulation and ceiling tiles could have been removed prior to cutting.

• Had a permit to work been initiated prior to performing hot work on the emergency

escape scuttle’s a proper fire watch would have been positioned in both the port and starboard diver’s quarters, allowing a quick response to any signs of fire.

2. Lack of communication and/or understanding between the shipyard welders and vessel.

• Had the shipyard welders fully understood the PTW system (as they signed) that

was in place and being utilized by the ship, he would have known that once a job is completed a new PTW is needed prior to starting another job.

3. Lack of communication and supervision between the shipyard workers and the vessel.

• Had the vessel’s (PIC) been monitoring the ongoing hot work jobs being carried out

onboard he might have been able to prevent the fire from occurring.

3.3 FINDINGS

1. No specific “Permit to Work” was issued and authorized by the vessel, for Hot Work

to be performed on the emergency escape scuttles accessing the Diver’s Quarters.

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JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

11

SECTION 4 – RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Better communication and supervision between the vessel and shipyard personnel. 2. Better communication and supervision between the vessel and shipyard superintendents. 3. When filling out a permit to work (PTW), the Person in Charge (PIC) gives a more specific

and detailed written description of the nature of work and location where the work is being performed.

4. For the vessel to make the shipyard superintendents more aware of the their permit to work

procedures, so that they can pass on the information to their workers assigned to the vessel, during the shipyard safety meetings.

5. More involvement by the crew and to designate continuous safety rounds during ongoing work

to the vessel. The above survey report is submitted by the undersigned independent marine surveyor at the request of AMP. The undersigned reserves the right to amend this survey, should and when further information become available.

Signed : Eng. John Pope Lead Investigating Surveyor

This report is intended for the sole use of the person or organization to whom it is addressed and no liability of any nature whatsoever shall be assumed to any other party in respect of it’s contents. This document does not make any warranty expressed or implied concerning any inaccuracy in any document issued. As to the addressee, neither the Company nor the undersigned shall be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered by virtue of any act, omission or default (whether arising by negligence or otherwise) by the undersigned, the Company or any of it’s servants.

Page 12: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

12

APPENDIX

Figure 1 MV American Constitution

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JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

13

Figure 2 Location of Diving Quarters

Figure 3 Existing P&S Escape Scuttles post fire

Page 14: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

14

Figure 4 Modified P&S Raised Escape Scuttles

Page 15: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

15

Page 16: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

16

Figure 5

Permit to Work dated 23-March-2007 for hot work on back deck

Figure 6 Fire Damage to Bunks

Page 17: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

17

Figure 7 Fire Damage to False Ceiling

Page 18: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

18

Figure 8 Smoke and Water Damage to Cabin (TYP)

Page 19: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

19

Figure 9 Smoke and Water Damage to False Ceiling (TYP)

Page 20: PANAMA MARITIME AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION … DE ACCIDENT… · Panama Maritime Authority ... The Marine Surveyor Eng. John Pope was the ... safety precautions to be taken on the permit

JHON POPE

Fire - M/V ¨American Constitution¨ Accidents Investigator

Panama Maritime Authority

Directorate General of Merchant Marine

Investigation of Wrecks and Maritime Accidents Department

Panama, Republic of Panama

20

Figure 10 View of the escape ladder leading to the scuttle exit

to main deck also the scuttle in question.