The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

COMMODORE Davy Rolle, director and CEO of the Bahamas Maritime Authority, said that investigations into what caused the fire on the Carnival Triumph should be completed very soon and then handed over to the International Maritime Organisation.

Mr Rolle said the preliminary findings have been compiled but a more thorough investigation is still needed.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and is being conducted in accordance with the international causality guidelines with the aim of ascertaining the cause and circumstances that is related to the incident on board and its emergency management.

“It will also identify change as it relates to the reoccurrence of similar incidents. A report will be submitted to the International Maritime Organisation on conclusion of the investigation,” he said.

“We have persons assigned to carry out the investigations. Depending on the nature of the incident experts from engineering and other disciplines are assigned. We are looking forward to a very comprehensive and detailed report. What we know is, there was a fire on board. It originated in the vessel’s machinery space and although it was extinguished by the onboard fire system, the vessel suffered a loss of power and as a consequence completed its voyage in Mobile Alabama under tow.

“We had no reported injuries to the persons on board, neither were there any reports of pollution from the vessel.”

The Bahamas Maritime Authority is working in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard and the United Stated National Transport Safety Board.

The Triumph, a Bahamian flagged vessel, made port in Mobile, Alabama last Thursday after what should have been an idyllic four-day cruise turned into a gruelling week-long ordeal for more than 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew.

The 13-storey, 272 metre liner set off from Galveston on February 7 and was without power when an engine caught fire two days later.

Many of the passengers slept on the deck in the absence of air-conditioning, electricity and working toilets. They had to use showers, sinks and plastic bags instead of bathrooms. After drifting in the Gulf of Mexico, the Carnival Triumph was intercepted by tugboats last week and towed into port — three days after it was due.

The cruise line said it would give each passenger $500, a free flight home, a full refund on their trip and for most expenses on board, as well as credit for another cruise.

At the time of the fire, the vessel was carrying 4,229 passengers.