United Stated Coast Guard (USCG) informs that salvage and post fire recovery operations continue on the Grande Costa D’Avorio as crews work to safely transfer vehicles and cargo from the vessel to the port facility.
On 5th July, two firefighters were confirmed dead after the vessel caught fire in Port Newark. Multiple vehicles on the ship caught fire, then spread to the two floors above. In addition to the two firefighters who were killed at the outset of the blaze, two Newark Fire captains were injured in the response and were treated at a local hospital.
The fire was successfully contained by the USCG the following days. To date, all vehicles have been removed from the cargo decks of the ship, as well as all 134 freestanding containers that were located beyond the area affected by the fire.
In addition to the ongoing cargo removal operations, teams have conducted risk assessments for environmental protection and maintaining ship stability. At this stage, the vessel remains in a stable condition and no fuel oil or hazardous material has released into the marine environment, USCG informs.
Our partnerships played a crucial role in the swift response to the initial fire, and we continue to work jointly during this phase of recovery operations to accomplish significant milestones toward the completion of salvage operations
… said Capt. Zeita Merchant, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator and Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey
A comprehensive formal investigation is underway determine the root causes and contributing factors leading to the shipboard fire. The investigation will be led by the Coast Guard in tandem with federal, state, and local entities including the National Transportation Safety Board, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Jersey State Fire Marshal, New Jersey State Police, Newark Fire Arson Division, Essex County Prosecutor and a host of safety agencies to ensure we gain a critical and necessary understanding of the incident.
