|
welding polypropylene
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Unauthorized welding by crewmembers in the
main laundry ignited a large accumulation of lint in the ventilation
system, leading to a major fire aboard a cruise ship that injured
23 people and resulted in damages exceeding $17 million, the National
Transportation Safety Board has found.
On July 20, 1998, the Liberian-registered passenger ship Ecstasy
- operated by Carnival Cruise Lines - departed the Port of Miami,
Florida, en route to Key West, with 2,565 passengers and 916 crewmembers
on board, when a fire started in the main laundry. The fire migrated
through the ventilation system to the aft mooring deck where polypropylene
mooring lines ignited. As the ship was attempting to reach an
anchorage point, it lost propulsive power and steering and began
to drift. The fire was declared extinguished 4 hours later, and
the vessel was towed back to port.
The Safety Board found that two crewmembers were preparing to
weld in the laundry room without obtaining the proper authorization.
During the course of that activity, a fire migrated to the lint
that had accumulated in the ventilation system. In addition to
the unauthorized welding, the Board cited Carnival's failure to
maintain the laundry exhaust ducts in a fire-safe condition as
part of the probable cause. Contributing to the extensive fire
damage on the ship was the lack of an automatic fire suppression
system on the aft mooring deck and the lack of an automatic means
of mitigating the spread of smoke and fire through the ventilation
ducts.
 Please Contact Us to discuss your welding polypropylene
needs. You design it, we build it.
welding
polypropylene
|
|
