MAIB report on Star Princess Fire

[cdfev]

I am sure that this report has been discussed on the board before as it was produced in October 2006 http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Star%20Princess.pdf.

 

Since the source of the fire was determined to be a smoldering cigarette on the balcony, has Princess placed a restriction from smoking on the balcony?

 

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I have not been on this board in several months.

[Pam in CA]

Since the source of the fire was determined to be a smoldering cigarette on the balcony, has Princess placed a restriction from smoking on the balcony?

No, there is no restriction on smoking on the balcony. However, as always (including years before the fire), the Captain, during his Muster speech, asks passengers to dispose of cigarettes responsibly and not throw them overboard as they can blow back onto the ship. It's not the smoking that causes fires but people throwing butts off their balcony or over a railing, thinking they're tossing them into the ocean. Hopefully, people are getting the message and being responsible when smoking on their balconies.

[cdfev]

Since there is no restriction on balcony smoking, has Princess outfitted all the ships with outside sprinkler systems and removed all materials that are flammable from their balconies?

 

It is unlikely that all people are going to stop flicking their cigarettes off the balconies.

[chrysalis]

Since there is no restriction on balcony smoking, has Princess outfitted all the ships with outside sprinkler systems and removed all materials that are flammable from their balconies?

 

It is unlikely that all people are going to stop flicking their cigarettes off the balconies.

 

yes, yes, and yes

[Pam in CA]

Since there is no restriction on balcony smoking, has Princess outfitted all the ships with outside sprinkler systems and removed all materials that are flammable from their balconies?

 

It is unlikely that all people are going to stop flicking their cigarettes off the balconies.

Yes. Princess immediately started to replace all of the balcony furniture and installed sprinkler systems on their ships. They were the first cruiseline to do so and started the process months before the report came out with their recommendations.

 

There are also two officers on the Bridge, one on each side, with binoculars, checking the balconies 24/7 so that the balconies are visually checked constantly. Princess started this within a couple of days of the fire.

[cdfev]

Thanks for the quick answers....I can't imagine what it must have felt like when looking out on the port side of a ship and seeing it in flames. Princess and the passengers got very lucky on that night. It is not hard to imagine the number of deaths if the fire had not been brought under control so quickly...sound the Titanic theme song.

[Pam in CA]

Thanks for the quick answers....I can't imagine what it must have felt like when looking out on the port side of a ship and seeing it in flames. Princess and the passengers got very lucky on that night. It is not hard to imagine the number of deaths if the fire had not been brought under control so quickly...sound the Titanic theme song.

Princess won kudos from the passengers for their handling of the situation, their quick response, and the way they handle Muster so that passengers knew exactly where to go and how to get there, where they were kept informed -- and safe. Yes, it was luck but it was also good planning and training. They should have had sprinklers on the balconies and non-flammable materials to prevent the fire before but once it became an issue, they reacted appropriately immediately.