STEAMER NATCHEZ

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Report: Hot work in unprotected area caused fire

Combustible materials left unprotected near hot work led to a fire on the 'Steamer Natchez', according to a report of the National Transportation Safety Board. The fire resulted in $1.5 million in damages to the vessel. At the time when the fire broke out on May 3, 2022, it was moored and out of service, undergoing a major overhaul of its boilers, generators, and passenger spaces for about 16 months, starting in Jan 2021. This work required the employment and coordination of several contractors to accomplish the various tasks. The vessel's owner/operator, who had crews working on the vessel during the day and a security watch in the evening, did not maintain a safety plan for the work being conducted on the vessel but instead relied on the contractors to have and follow their own safety plans. However, the company that was conducting the hot work in the generator space did not have a fire safety plan for the work on board the vessel. The NTSB investigators found neither the vessel owner, the New Orleans Steamboat Company, nor the hot work contractor had a written safety policy or procedures in place for employees to review and follow when preparing for and conducting hot work on the vessel, as it is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. The NTSB determined the probable cause of fire aboard the vessel was the failure of contractor and vessel personnel to identify and then either remove or adequately protect combustible materials near hot work.

Fire in engine room

On May 3, 2022, at 8.05 p.m. a fire broke out in the engine room of the 'Steamer Natchez' in New Orleans. The New Orleans Fire Department responded immediately, and eight fire appliances with 24 personnel scene were mobilized. Smoke was billowing from the vessel upon their arrival. The fire was brought under control at around 9 p.m. There was some damage to wiring circuits aboard the ship which was undergoing maintenance and overhauls. No one was injured in the incident. Firefighters descended through the heavy smoke and braved extremely dangerous conditions to reach the seat of the fire which could be kept from spreading, so that the damage was limited to the engine room.