National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report: Fire on Board U.S. Small Passenger Vessel, 'Express Shuttle II', Pithlachascotee River Near Port Richey, Florida, on October 17, 2004.

摘要

This report discusses the fire that destroyed the small passenger vessel Express Shuttle II on October 17, 2004, at the mouth of the Pithlachascotee River near Port Richey, Florida. The vessel was returning from the Gulf of Mexico after shuttling 78 passengers to an offshore casino boat. Only the master and two deckhands were on board when the fire broke out. None of the crew was seriously injured, although one of the deckhands was treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters from Port Richey and Pasco County fought the blaze. The vessel, valued at $800,000, was a total loss. From its investigation of this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board identified safety issues in the following areas: preventive maintenance, crew response to fire emergency, and fire detection systems. On the basis of its findings, the Safety Board made recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard, Paradise of Port Richey, and Caterpillar, Inc.