|
COPYRIGHT 2003 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
May 27--A day after a deadly explosion aboard the SS Norway, investigators began to zero in on the failed boiler that sent burning steam throughout the cruise ship, killing four crew members from the Philippines, injuring 20 employees and frightening more than 2,000 passengers.
Although the cruise ship passed a federal inspection 10 days earlier, Coast Guard officials said the boilers were not part of that inspection. They said a ship's flag country is responsible for checking propulsion systems -- in the Norway's case, that is the Bahamas.
"It would be up to them, if they even do it," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Gene Smith.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say they will inspect all records to sort out what checks were done, by whom and when. Norwegian Cruise Line spokeswoman Susan Robison said the crew did a routine inspection and cleaning of the boilers May 16, the day after the Coast Guard inspection.
Though the ship is 42 years old, and it has been refitted a number of times, investigators have not yet been told the age of the boilers, which may be a key component in the investigation.
"This is an old ship. I've said, `How old is the boiler?' They said, 'Boilers go on a long...
Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.
|
Bookmark this article
Print this article
Link to this article
Email this article
Digg It!
Add to del.icio.us
RSS
