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Settlement exceeding $16 million reached in lawsuit regarding fire

On Sep 9, a settlement exceeding $16 million was reached in the lawsuit regarding the fire aboard the H'Hoegh Xiamen' in Jacksonville on June 4, 2020, between 11 firefighters of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the owner Hoegh Autoliners, operator Grimaldi Deep Sea, and port services companies Horizon Terminal Services and SSA Marine. During the fire fighting operation, an explosion occurred which had injured some of the firefighters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation and found several reasons that caused the fire with the major issue being the crew, who did not adhere to Grimaldi's policy of disconnecting the car batteries. The NTSB stated that a fire that caused an explosion was caused by a spark from a car battery aboard the vessel. The other issue noted was the crew's lack of understanding of how to contact the local emergency authorities. The firefighter's lawyer alleged that the crew had limited or no proficiency in English. The fire detection system was also found to have been deactivated after the loading operation resulting in delay for requesting assistance . In August 2020, the vessel along with its cargo of 2420 vehicles were declared a total loss of $40 million. Pajcic & Pajcic, a law firm presenting the firefighters, stated that the settlement was negotiated and finalized with each defendant involved in the lawsuit. Hoegh Autoliners reached a confidential settlement with the firefighters. The final settlement was made before the start of the trial.

Horizon Terminal Services and SSA Atlantic, LLC, reached settlements with firefighters

Horizon Terminal Services and SSA Atlantic, LLC, have reached settlements with the firefighters suing them over injuries they suffered in the fire aboard the 'Hoegh Xiamen' on June 4, 2020, at Blount Island, which left Hoegh Autoliners and Grimaldi Deep Sea SPA as the two remaining defendants. While fighting the fire from the inside, at least 10 firefighters were injured when there was an explosion near the stairwell they were in. It took more than 150 firefighters over a week to put out the fire on the ship, an effort that cost the city millions of dollars. In Jan 2024, the judge denied motions from all four defendants for a summary judgment. They argued the cause of the ship fire was undetermined. In denying that motion, the judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence the fire started in a car that was improperly screed and loaded on the ship. The firefighters have dropped their claims for economic damages. The remaining defendants will go to trial April 4.

Report: Used vehicle battery caused fire at Blount Island

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its investigative report on the fire aboard the 'Hoegh Xiamen' at Blount Island on June 4, 2020. The NTSB said the started on the eighth deck of the ship, sparked by an improperly disconnected battery on one of the 2,400 vehicles onboard. The NTSB determined that the ship’s fire detection system was offline for the loading process when the fire started and wasn’t reactivated until after the smoke was first seen. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s response was delayed because the ship’s master “did not have immediately available contact information for search and rescue authorities and did not know how to report a fire to local authorities—who to call, what number to dial, or which frequency to use.” The first call to emergency crews was from someone onshore. It lists the following timetable: 3:30 p.m.: Smoke first seen on the ship 3:45 p.m. Ship’s fire detection system re-activated 3:49 p.m.: Ship’s sailing master starts making radio calls 3:54 p.m.: The distress call is relayed to the U.S. Coast Guard by another vessel 3:59 p.m.: An onshore witness calls 911 4:03 p.m.: The first JFRD unit reaches the ship Nine members of the JFRD were injured while fighting the fire, five seriously. The fire burned for a total of eight days. None of the 21 crew members was injured. The ship was a total loss and more than 2,400 vehicles on board were as well. There was a total of more than $40 million in damage. The vessel was towed to Turkey to be recycled in August 2020 after salvage operations were completed. Because of the tireless efforts to spray water on the ship’s exterior, the hull had remained intact, keeping it from breaking up and sinking. The NTSB concluded many of the vehicles loaded onto the vessel had batteries that were not disconnected and secured in accordance with procedures, which increased the risk of electrical arcing and component faults. During loading operations, both the loading personnel and crew missed opportunities to address these hazards, officials said. The NTSB recommended that the shipping companies improve oversight of vehicle loading and training of personnel involved in battery securement. The agency recommended federal agencies improve regulations for ships that transport used vehicles. The NTSB also recommended that the vessel’s operator revise their procedures for the reactivation of fire detection systems and ensuring emergency contact information is immediately available for bridge teams.