NTSB Investigates Maintenance Lapse as Possible Cause of Cruise Ship Fire in Portland

A fire aboard the Ocean Navigator cruise ship in Portland in October 2023 has been attributed to equipment failure potentially stemming from a maintenance lapse, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The incident occurred while the ship was docked, requiring the evacuation of around 200 passengers and crew members. One employee sustained burns during the explosion and fire, which caused over $2 million in property damage. The operator, American Queen Voyages (recently renamed Victory Cruise Lines), had to cancel at least one scheduled voyage due to the event.

The explosion likely originated from debris in the lubrication system of an auxiliary diesel engine, which led to significant mechanical damage. The NTSB’s report noted that the oil filters and oil in the engine had not been replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. Specifically, the oil filters had been in use for over 3,300 hours—significantly exceeding the 1,000-hour replacement guideline—while the oil itself had been in the engine for more than 5,000 hours, five times the advised limit.

The report indicated that crew members had been adding considerably more lubricant oil to one auxiliary engine compared to the others leading up to the fire. This discrepancy should have been a warning sign of underlying issues with the engine.

Fortunately, the crew’s prompt actions—securing engine room ventilation and shutting off fuel sources—helped to contain the fire, which ultimately extinguished itself. The NTSB recommended that crew members receive routine training and adhere to maintenance schedules to prevent similar incidents in the future.

For further details, you can read the related articles:

• Crew member injured when explosion ignites fire on cruise ship in Portland
• Cruise ship damaged by explosion and fire cancels voyage

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