(Gatineau, Quebec, April 20, 2005) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today releases its final report (M02W0135) into the investigation of a switchboard fire aboard the Statendam in the waters of the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. On August 4, 2002, the passenger vessel Statendam embarked passengers in Vancouver, British Columbia, for a one-week return-cruise to Alaska, United States. At 8:25 p.m., about three and a half hours after departure, the main circuit breaker for one of the diesel generators failed. This started fires in the main switchboard room and the adjacent engine control room. The crew successfully extinguished both fires, and the vessel returned to Vancouver under tow. There were no injuries. During its investigation, the TSB uncovered deficiencies in the requirements for providing fire-retardant insulation on the deck between the engine control room and the main switchboard room. The lack of insulation allowed cables above the engine control room deck to ignite and start secondary fires. The Board recommended that: The Department of Transport submit a paper to the International Maritime Organization requesting a review of requirements for structural fire protection and fire-extinguishing systems to ensure that the fire risks associated with compartments containing high levels of electrical energy are adequately assessed, and that the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) dealing with structural fire protection and fixed fire-extinguishing systems are addressed. M05-01 The Board is also concerned that neither the International Maritime Organization nor the international shipping community have specified internationally applicable minimum standards of competency or knowledge for ship's electrical officers. The TSB issued two Marine Safety Advisories (MSA 09/02 and MSA 03/03) to the Dutch Ministry of Transport, in advance of its final report. The first advisory dealt with the inadequacy of structural fire protection between the main switchboard room and the engine control room. The second advisory dealt with the deficiencies in engineers' electro-technical training in 6.6 kV systems. Copies of both advisories were sent to Transport Canada, Holland America Line and the International Association of Classification Societies. The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. - 30 - Formore information, please call: John Cottreau Media Relations Advisor (819) 994-8053
