Report into Napier ship fire released

An investigation in a shipboard fire in the Port of Napier has found confusion about the role of the ship’s master and fire crew hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze. During the morning of 18 December 2020 in the Port of Napier, cargo discharge operations were underway on board the Singapore-flagged Kota Bahagia at Wharf 4. Four people working in a cargo hold discovered a rapidly evolving fire and evacuated immediately.

With the local fire service in attendance, the fire was suppressed using the on-board carbon dioxide fire-suppression system. The fire was officially declared as extinguished on 24 December 2020. There were no fatalities or injuries, but there was extensive damage to the cargo hold and cargo in the hold. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released its report on the fire in August 2022. At the time of the incident, the Kota Bahagia was operated by Pacific International Lines (PIL), a privately owned, Singapore-based shipping company.

The fire started due to hot work taking place in a cargo hold. Two shore-based fitters had been working in the hold to remove steel brackets holding wind turbine components in place. Molten material, ejected during gas-cutting activities, very likely ignited dry sawdust nearby, and the fire spread to the cargo. Stevedores returning to work on the vessel and the fitters noticed worsening smoke in the cargo hold. The workers had to pass close by the developing fire as they left the hold.

The crane driver gave the alarm on radio before leaving the crane. All shore based workers went down the mustering point on the wharf. The ship’s crew had sounded the fire alarm and started to follow their Fire Response plan, but following the arrival of fire crews there was some confusion.

Crew were ordered off the vessel by the senior fire officer.

The report found that fire fighters failed to initially give due regard to the master’s command status and knowledge of the ship and its systems. Valuable time was lost as the master attempted to convey their intended tactics to the officer in charge of the unified command team. The hatch cover could not be closed until a crane wire and container spreader had been hoisted out of the cargo hold.

As a consequence there was a delay in the activation of the vessel’s fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system and the release of carbon dioxide into the cargo hold. The fire was brought under control and normal operations resumed at the Port that afternoon. The fire onboard was officially declared extinguished on Christmas Eve. There were no injuries but there was serious damage to the cargo hold and the high-value cargo.

Two key findings were made. At the time of the incident the ship’s crew did not implement the requirements set out in PIL’s safety management system and the harbourmaster’s hot-work permit, or ensure the safe execution and supervision of hot work carried out by shore-based contractors on board the vessel. The suppression of the fire was delayed because the various parties involved did not have a shared and consistent understanding of each other’s roles and objectives

The TAIC investigation found hot-work precautions were not fully implemented by the ship’s crew and the tight stowage of the project cargo hampered the view and access of the person assisting with the gas-cutting operations. Consequently, in some locations there was no way to control effectively the dispersal of molten material ejected during the gas-cutting.