Mark V Rosenker News

The National Transportation Safety Board determined on Feb. 18 that a medically unfit pilot, an ineffective master, and poor communications between the two were the cause of an accident in which the Cosco Busan container ship spilled thousands of gallons of fuel oil into the San Francisco Bay after striking a bridge support tower. On November 7, 2007, at about 8:00 a.m. PST, in heavy fog with visibility of less than a quarter mile, the Hong Kong- registered, 901 ft container ship M/V Cosco Busan left its berth in the Port of Oakland destined for South Korea. The San Francisco Bay pilot, who was attempting to navigate the ship between the Delta and Echo support towers of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge…

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the grounding of the New Delhi Express was the error of the docking pilot in not using all available resources to determine the vessel's position as he navigated the Kill Van Kull waterway. Contributing to the cause of the grounding was the failure of both pilots to practice good bridge resource management. "This accident could have been prevented if previously issued safety recommendations regarding bridge resource management had been implemented," said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. On April 15, 2006, the container ship New Delhi Express arrived at the entrance of New York Harbor after a transatlantic voyage. Aboard the vessel were a master, 21 crewmembers, three passengers, and a Sandy Hook pilot.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the fire on board the Shuttle Express II was a fractured, improperly installed fuel-injection line on the inboard side of the starboard engine that allowed diesel fuel to spray onto the engine and ignite. Contributing to the cause of the fire was the failure of Paradise of Port Richey, the operator of the vessel, to have a preventive maintenance program, which could have identified the company's ongoing problems with the vessel's fuel lines before the failed line led to the fire. "Proper training on the replacement of the fuel line would have prevented this fire, which could have endangered the lives of the passengers who had just departed the boat minutes earlier," said Mark V. the NTSB.

The National Transportation Safety Board has sent an investigator to Jamaica to assist in the investigation of today's fire on board the Bermuda registered cruise ship Star Princess. The United Kingdom's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will lead the investigation. "This is an important industry for the United States because every year millions of Americans enjoy their vacations on board cruise ships. We appreciate the opportunity to work closely with the MAIB in this investigation," said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. The NTSB will participate in the investigation under the provisions of the International Maritime Organization's Code for Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents. All information regarding the investigation will be released through the MAIB.

In a report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board determined that insufficient intact stability and overloading caused the small passenger pontoon-style vessel, Lady D, to capsize when it encountered strong winds and waves in Baltimore's Northwest Harbor. The accident occurred on the afternoon of March 6, 2004 as the vessel, carrying twenty-three passengers and two crewmembers, was en route from Fort McHenry to Fells Point, Maryland. Five passengers were killed and four suffered serious injuries. stated NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. The lack of intact stability was the result of overloading allowed by a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate…

National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker today in a speech before the 8th Annual National Harbor Safety Committee Conference applauded the actions taken by the U.S. transportation safety on waterways. "Government, industry, professional groups, and other organizations, are an essential part of a strong and successful marine transportation industry," Rosenker said. During his speech, he applauded the steps the Coast Guard is taking to address the passenger weight issue, noting that in yesterday's Federal Register the Coast Guard announced a commitment to a high priority rulemaking to address this matter, and in the meantime to implement an interim program so that passenger weight stability issues can be addressed right away.

National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said the nation's passenger ferries need aggressive safety management systems. He encouraged ship owners and operators to use a safety management system to resolve safety problems before casualties or incidents occur, rather than to simply comply with regulations imposed from outside. In his speech he noted that, safety management systems are mandatory for U.S.-flag vessels on international voyages. The Federal regulations, however, do not apply to U.S. vessels that operate on domestic waters, including the Staten Island Ferry and most other ferry operations in the country.