Latest news with #ferryfire
CBC
23-07-2025
- General
- CBC
TSB launches national investigation after report on P.E.I. ferry fire reveals safety gaps
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its final report into the July 2022 fire aboard the MV Holiday Island ferry off Prince Edward Island's coast, saying it will launch a national safety issue investigation on vessel fires and emergency response practices to lessen the impact of future incidents. That investigation "opens the door to a national conversation on vessel fire safety to ensure that every person who steps aboard any vessel in Canada can do so with confidence that systems are in place to protect them," the board's chair, Yoan Marier, was quoted as saying in a news release. The TSB's findings on the Holiday Island fire were presented during a news conference in Charlottetown, P.E.I., on Wednesday. Among other things, the watchdog agency raised concerns about role confusion between Transport Canada and Northumberland Ferries Limited, the vessel's operator, when the fire broke out as the Holiday Island was approaching the dock in Wood Islands, on P.E.I.'s southeastern coast. The report found that although Northumberland Ferries was responsible for operating the vessel, Transport Canada retained accountability, with the federal transport minister acting as the vessel's "authorized representative" — the person legally responsible for the ship's safety. The report found that staff at both organizations were unclear about what the role of authorized representative entailed and who was ultimately responsible for key safety and oversight duties. "The lack of clarity extended to critical areas such as operations, emergency repairs and oversight. Communications between the operator and Transport Canada were informal, and oversight of vessel maintenance and operations was limited," Marier said. 'There is still more to do' Mark Wilson, president and CEO of Northumberland Ferries, said in a statement that the company welcomes the TSB's findings. He said NFL has already taken 16 corrective actions to improve its performance in advance of the report's release. "These actions included enhancing our emergency training, revising and updating procedures, and strengthening operational protocols," Wilson was quoted as saying in the statement. "We recognize that there is still more to do and we will work with Transport Canada to ensure that the report's findings are implemented in a timely and effective fashion." What happened aboard the Holiday Island? The fire broke out in the ferry's engine room at around 11 a.m. AT on July 22, 2022, about an hour into the ferry's crossing from Caribou, N.S., to Wood Islands. More than 200 people were evacuated from the vessel. No injuries were reported. The 50-year-old ferry had been scheduled for replacement in 2027, but had to be scrapped early due to the extensive damage it suffered in the fire. Étienne Séguin-Bertrand, the senior investigator and safety analyst with the TSB, said the age of the vessel was not a contributing factor in the blaze. He said the fire began after a non-standard repair to the ferry's fuel injection system failed, causing fuel to spray onto hot engine parts and ignite. The issue started with a small leak in the fuel rail of the main engine's injection system. The crew initially patched it with gasket material and consulted the manufacturer's representative while waiting for replacement parts, Séguin-Bertrand said. "The repairs kept failing, so they kept applying further temporary repairs," he said. "What is especially concerning in this case is that there was no reviewed risk assessment performed by the operator of the ferry to take into account the additional risks that were posed by the presence of those temporary repairs on board." Long-standing issue Marier noted this is not the first time the TSB has flagged concerns related to the authorized representative role. "If authorized representatives do not have a clear understanding of the scope of their responsibilities with respect to safety, vessels may operate without the minimum defences provided by meeting the regulatory requirements, and critical safety obligations can be inadequately addressed or worse, overlooked," he said. The Holiday Island fire was one of nearly 400 fires on commercial vessels reported to the TSB over the past decade. Since its inception 35 years ago, the board has issued nine safety concerns and 10 recommendations related to fire safety. As a result of this latest investigation, the board has issued a formal recommendation calling on Transport Canada to provide detailed guidance for authorized representatives. "This guidance should support authorized representatives in understanding and complying with applicable regulations, thereby reducing the risks of vessels and crews operating without the minimum safety defenses afforded by regulatory compliance," Marier said. Do not mistake luck for emergency preparedness. — Yoan Marier, Transportation Safety Board of Canada The investigation also found that the Holiday Island engine room's CO2 fire suppression unit was not initially activated due to unclear instructions. Although the crew believed the system had engaged, the supression unit had not actually discharged. The delay allowed the fire to intensify. "Additionally, the engine room had not fully been sealed. As a result, when the CO2 was finally released, it likely dispersed and allowed oxygen to continue entering the space. This reduced the suppression system's effectiveness, and the fire continued to burn." Séguin-Bertrand said. Thanks to the efforts of the crew and first responders, the fire was contained to the ferry's engine room and did not spread further. Marier noted the emergency response was ultimately successful, but said that was largely due to luck. "The fire broke out when the vessel was near the terminal. It was daylight, the weather was manageable. The seas were calm. A modern evacuation system had been installed earlier that year, and help was nearby," he said.
South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's recurring tragedy: deadly boat fire fuels urgent reform calls
A deadly ferry fire in Indonesia has reignited calls for sweeping reform of its maritime transport sector, with analysts blaming overcapacity, ageing fleets and weak enforcement for a string of recent boat disasters across the sprawling archipelago nation of over 17,000 islands. . On Sunday afternoon, a ferry was carrying more than double its declared passenger capacity when it caught fire off Talise Island, off the coast of Sulawesi, forcing dozens to jump into the sea and killing at least five people, according to the country's Maritime Security Agency. The vessel KM Barcelona V was travelling from the remote Talaud Islands to Manado in North Sulawesi A viral video shows passengers plunging into the water as the fire engulfs the vessel. Manado's rescue agency said 571 people were on board despite the ferry's manifest listing just 280 passengers and 15 crew members. Including the fire on Sunday, Indonesia has recorded at least three boat disasters alone this month, in addition to a string of other similar incidents in previous years, in a country where ferries are often the only mode of transport available for inter-island connections. On July 14, a speedboat carrying 18 passengers capsized due to a four-metre high wave in the waters around Mentawai in West Sumatra. All passengers were safe after they swam for six hours to the nearest shore. Rinto Wardana Samaloisa, regent of Mentawai Islands, told state news agency Antara that the ship was 'over capacity' as it was only allowed to carry 10 passengers. The vessel also lacked a radio for communication, and it did not have the permit to sail from the harbour master on duty due to 'extreme weather'.
South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hundreds rescued after Indonesia ferry fire kills at least five
An Indonesian ferry fire killed at least five people on July 20, 2025, the country's coastguard said. More than 200 others were saved, with many jumping overboard to escape the huge blaze. The KM Barcelona 5 ferry was engulfed in flames off the coast of Sulawesi island, according to Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency. The incident happened just weeks after at least 19 people were killed when a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
What we know about the Indonesian ferry fire
Over 560 people were rescued, and three died after the KM Barcelona 5 passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia 's North Sulawesi province on Sunday. The fire, which started in the stern, was extinguished within an hour, with rescue efforts involving coast guard ships, rescue vessels, and local fishermen. Photos and videos showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea as orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel. Authorities revised the death toll from five to three, confirming that a pregnant woman was among the deceased, while a two-month-old baby initially reported dead was saved. The incident highlighted common discrepancies in Indonesian ferry manifests, as 568 survivors were rescued despite the manifest listing only 280 passengers.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Pregnant woman is among at least five dead after ferry carrying hundreds of people bursts into flames in Indonesia - with frantic families seen leaping into the sea to escape
At lease five people, including a pregnant woman, have died after a ferry carrying hundreds of passengers burst into flames in Indonesia forcing terrified travellers to jump overboard into the sea. More than 280 people were rescued and evacuation efforts were ongoing following the incident on Sunday. The KM Barcelona 5 was headed to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, from Talaud, an island district in the province, when it caught fire in waters near Talise, Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, said. The senior officer said that three navy ships had been deployed, and 284 passengers and crew members had so far been evacuated. But Manado SAR Office Public Relations Officer Nuriadin Gumeleng stated one tragic victim was a pregnant woman who had been referred from Talaud to Manado. 'Currently, only one person has been identified as having died, a pregnant woman. Her body is now on land,' Gumeleng told local news site Harian Jogja. The rescue operation included assistance from local fishermen, who saved some survivors wearing life jackets as they were drifting to nearby islands in the choppy waters. Some passengers filmed the wreckage a distance away as they recounted the horrifying events There were no immediate reports of injuries, and no exact figures of passengers and crew members onboard the ferry. Striking footage of the incident shows the vessel entirely engulfed in bright orange flames as plumes of grey smoke tower above the wreckage. A woman can be heard crying uncontrollably in a recording of the ruined ferry that shows a number of passengers in orange life vests forced to enter the sea as they sit on the edge of the vessel. The camera then reveals several dozen people already in the water after swimming away from the boat. Another video appears to show a toddler rescued from the sea by a man who relays his account of the horrifying events. He is recorded filming the wreckage a distance away and clutching the young child in his arms who coughs as the man narrates. In one chilling broadcast uploaded to Facebook a passenger named Abdul Rahmad Agu pleaded: 'We are burning at sea... we need help... fast...'. Rescue operations are ongoing with emergency teams racing to account for all passengers. A Manado KSOP officer named the three rescue ships dispatched to the scene as the KM Barcelona III, KM Venecian, and KM Cantika Lestari 9F. The ferry was scheduled to dock at Manado Port when disaster struck, local outlet IDN Times reports. Families of those onboard have been urged to stay calm and await official updates. Just days earlier, at least 38 people died after tourist boat carrying 53 passengers capsized in Vietnam. High winds struck Halong Bay, the Wonder Sea boat, and according to Vn Express, rescue crews recovered 37 bodies and saved 11 survivors - with five still unaccounted for.
