Communiqués

TSB # M04/2005

(Gatineau, Quebec, May 31, 2005) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today releases its final report (M04M0013) into furnace explosions in an auxiliary boiler on the Marine Atlantic passenger ferry Caribou off the coast of North Sydney, Nova Scotia, on March 4, 2004.

In its investigation, the TSB found that the furnace explosions were the result of a series of uncontrolled ignitions of an accumulated combustible fuel/air mixture within the enclosed space of the furnace combustion chamber and uptake. The fires were likely the result of the ignition of the fuel oil that had pooled in register air boxes and then discharged out of the boiler during each explosion. The boiler manufacturer's instruction manuals were not readily available prior to the accident, and the starboard auxiliary boiler was not being operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and specification.

The Board is concerned that the Marine Occupational Safety and Health Regulations pursuant to the Canada Labour Code Part II, or other publications distributed by Transport Canada, do not provide adequate guidance for either assessing the risks of flash fires, or for choosing suitable flame-retardant protective clothing. The Board will be monitoring the situation to assess the need for further safety action on this issue.

The TSB also found that there were risks to crew members because the clothing supplied did not afford sufficient protection against burns.

As a result of this occurrence, Marine Atlantic has placed new copies of the complete boiler instruction manual on board the vessel. Necessary adjustments have also been made to both boilers in order to meet the manufacturer's specifications. Two additional auxiliary boiler emergency shutdowns were also installed in the engine room.

To ensure the safety of employees, the owner has updated its Personal Protective Equipment Program. The company has also developed a Job Safety Analysis Program to help employees identify risks by assessing the tasks before carrying them out.

At about 4:20 p.m. local time on March 4, 2004, approximately 14 nautical miles north-northeast of the North Sydney terminal, a series of furnace explosions occurred in the starboard auxiliary boiler of the ro-ro ferry Caribou. The resulting fires were quickly extinguished and the Caribou completed its voyage. Two officers suffered burns. One was airlifted to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for special medical treatment.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

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