摘要: |
Afatal barge fire and explosion four years ago and a deadly dive boat fire two years later left 36 people dead. Both vessels had Coast Guard Certificates of Inspection (COI). One had a Safety Management System (SMS), but inspection and survey records indicated that the overall condition of the barge was poor. An investigation of the dive boat found several unsafe practices including a lack of crew training and emergency drills and no roving patrol. Both incidents raise questions about how well existing rules are followed and whether there need to be new ones. Subchapter M - the towboat inspection rule - has new firefighting mandates, and additional requirements for passenger vessels are looming. Firefighting detection equipment has evolved. New extinguishing agents like 3M's Novec 1230, FM-200 and water mist have come on the market. And challenges have grown with the wider use of lithium-ion batteries. |