At 0350 e.d.t., on June 5, 1979, a fire erupted on the Canadian Bulk Carrier CARTIERCLIFFE HALL while it was underway in Lake Superior between Duluth, Minnesota, and Port Cartier, Quebec, Canada, in U.S. waters. The fire destroyed the vessel's accommodation spaces and pilothouse. Six persons were killed and five persons were injured; one person died later as a result of burns received from the fire. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ignition by an unknown source of combustible materials within the spar deck crew accommodations. The rapid rate at which the fire spread was due to the lack of structural fire protection in the design and the extensive use of combustible materials in the construction of the accommodation spaces. Contributing to the loss of life were the rapid rate at which the fire spread and the lack of an adequate fire detecting system. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 20594 MARINE ACCIDENT REPORT Adopted: January 3, 1980 FIRE ON BOARD THE CANADIAN BULK CARRIER LAKE SUPERIOR INTRODUCTION This accident was investigated jointly by the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard. The formal investigation convened on June 8, 1979, in Duluth, Minnesota. This report is based on the evidence and testimony developed by this investigation. The Safety Board has considered all facts pertinent to its statutory responsibility to determine the cause or probable cause of the accident and to make recommendations. The Safety Board recommendations are made independently of any recommendations made by the Coast Guard. To assure public knowledge of them, all Safety Board recommendations and responses thereto are published in the Federal Register. SYNOPSIS At 0350 e.d.t., on June 5, 1979, a fire erupted on the Canadian bulk carrier CARTIERCLIFFE HALL while it was underway in Lake Superior between Duluth, Minnesota and Port Cartier, Quebec, Canada, in U.S. waters. The fire destroyed the vessel's accommodation spaces and pilothouse. Six persons were killed and five persons were injured; one person died later as a result of burns received from the fire. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ignition by an unknown source of combustible materials within the spar deck crew accommodations. The rapid rate at which the fire spread was due to the lack of structural fire protection in the design and the extensive use of combustible materials in the construction of the accommodation spaces. Contributing to the loss of life were the rapid rate at which the fire spread and the lack of an adequate fire detecting system. |