![\"Improperly](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.marineinsight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Passenger-vessel-Spirit-of-Boston-300x157.png?resize=300%2C157&ssl=1\")
<\/div>\n![\"Passenger](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.marineinsight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Passenger-vessel-Spirit-of-Boston.png?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1\")
A fire caused by an improperly extinguished chafing fuel canister resulted in $3.1 million in damages to the Spirit of Boston passenger vessel, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).<\/p>\n
The incident happened on March 24, 2023, while the vessel was docked at Commonwealth Pier in Boston Harbor.<\/p>\n
The fire began on the first deck of the vessel in a wait station area after hospitality staff accidentally dropped a heating canister under a plastic glassware cart.<\/p>\n
The passengers had already left the ship, and none of the service staff onboard at the time were injured.<\/p>\n
The investigation done by NTSB revealed that all marine crewmembers had left the vessel before the fire started. Without a trained marine crewmember present, the hospitality staff could not execute the vessel\u2019s emergency response plan.<\/p>\n
The report said that the fire could have likely been contained if a marine crewmember had been onboard.<\/p>\n
The NTSB criticised City Cruises US, the operator of the Spirit of Boston, for relying on verbal instructions instead of documented procedures for handling open-flame devices like heating canisters.<\/p>\n
Investigators found that the hospitality staff did not always follow the proper practices for extinguishing the canisters as instructed or as per the manufacturer\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n The NTSB issued several recommendations to improve safety:<\/p>\n Require Marine Crew Presence<\/em>\u2013 At least one marine crewmember should remain onboard until all non-crew personnel have left the vessel.<\/p>\n Documented Safety Procedures-<\/em> City Cruises US should develop written procedures for handling open-flame devices on its vessels.<\/p>\n Implementation of Safety Management System (SMS)-<\/em> City Cruises US should adopt a comprehensive SMS across its fleet. This system would cover critical safety practices, including emergency response protocols and proper equipment handling.<\/p>\n The NTSB also reiterated its earlier recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard to mandate SMS for all U.S.-flagged passenger vessels.<\/p>\n Although Congress granted the Coast Guard the authority to enforce SMS in 2010, little progress has been made, with discussion stalling since 2021.<\/p>\n Additionally, the NTSB has urged the Passenger Vessel Association to inform its members about the accident and tell them the importance of marine crew presence, proper handling of open-flame devices, and the implementation of SMS to enhance safety across the industry.<\/p>\n![\"Melted](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.marineinsight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Melted-mass-of-debris.png?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1\")