Oregon passenger vessel blaze reveals lax Coast Guard safety requirements

A Columbia River passenger vessel that caught on fire in 2008 had only one six person inflatable dinghy available as a rescue boat for its 177 passengers and crew. This according to a recently released report from the National Transportation Safety Board about the fire aboard the Queen of the West, a 221 foot sternwheeler operating on the Columbia River in Oregon.

An article in Professional Mariner Magazine about the report describes the NTSB as “alarmed” by the lack of survival craft. However, the article states that the Coast Guard does not require any survival craft to be aboard that class of vessel. Nevertheless, the board is recommending that enough survival craft be available to handle all passengers and crew aboard all passenger vessels.

The fire broke out in the engine room after a hydraulic hose failed, causing fluid to spray and ignite after hitting an 800 degree exhaust hose. The report credits the installation of a CO2 system two years earlier as a key reason for quick containment of the blaze. No injuries were reported. A nearby tug pushed the vessel to shore and all departed safely.

The vessel operator at the time was Ambassadors International Inc.’s Majestic America Line, which has since gone out of business.

Source: Professional Mariner