NTSB reveals what caused 2023 cargo ship fire that killed 2 Newark firefighters
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- The NTSB is providing answers on the massive cargo ship fire that killed two Newark firefighters nearly two years ago at Port Newark.
The July 2023 fire was sparked by a vehicle that investigators say should have never been on the ship and the message behind the NTSB hearing is that it was a tragedy that never should have happened.
The chairman of the NTSB called out the Newark Fire Department and said their firefighters were poorly trained before fighting the massive cargo ship fire and they are still poorly trained after.
A series of three mistakes led to the deaths of Wayne Brooks and Augie Acabou -- and now the feds are rushing to try and ensure similar issues don't happen at other ports across the country.
The NTSB reported on its findings Tuesday morning in the nation's capital. First, the cause of the fire was a Jeep that was being used to push old cars onto the cargo ship.
It caught fire which quickly spread to the ship loaded with combustible vehicles. It turns out that it never should have been used in the first place and it is against federal regulations.
Investigators say it was pushing cars well beyond its tow capacity and its warning light was reported being on before the fire. The NTSB says no port should be using unapproved vehicles.
Next, the ship's fire suppression system didn't work properly.
Ship workers filled the vessel with CO2 to put out the flames, but the crew couldn't close a deck door because the controls to operate it were on the inside, not the outside.
If the door was closed, federal investigators say the fire would have been put out and the investigators never would have been sent inside in the first place.
And third, the NTSB said local firefighters were sent inside without being notified about the dangers and risks and they did not have the proper maritime training to fight dangerous ship fires.
"Staff found that the NFD's lack of marine vessel firefighting training left the land-based firefighters unprepared to respond to a vessel fire, resulting in an ineffective response that contributed to the fires spread, vessels damaged, and led to the firefighters casualties," an official said at the hearing.
The Port Authority issued a new policy on what vehicles can and cannot be used to push cargo.
The feds also issued a series of recommendations including all agencies to have written emergency plans, for control panels to be located outside of deck doors and more formal maritime training for firefighters.
Eyewitness News has reached out to the city of Newark, who provided a joint statement from Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, who said that since the tragedy, the Public Safety Department and Fire Division immediately set out to obtain funding for training.
"So far, city funding combined with a lengthy and intensive grant writing process yielded Maritime Firefighting Awareness Training for every firefighter not on long-term medical leave, totaling 540 members certified between May 2024 and March 2025. On December 20, 2024, the Division submitted its grant for the next phase in the normal progression to operational training and we are hopeful to receive those FEMA funds," the statement said.
They say the Fire Division has created new "standard operating procedures and policy" to ensure the safety of all members operating at shipboard fires. They say they are also collaborating with the Port Authority to "secure a location and insert a Special Operations Command Unit to provide 24/7 response to emergencies at the port."
"This is a heavy load - but one our Public Safety and Fire Division leadership and its rank and file are fully prepared to lift for the good of our city and as an example to others," the statement said.
The families of the two victims filed a lawsuit against all of the parties involved last year and the litigation is ongoing.
Mark Apostolos, the attorney representing the two victims' families, released a statement about the hearing:
"The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the July 5, 2023, fire aboard the Grande Costa D'Avorio at Port Newark has shed critical light on the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking loss of Newark Fire Department Fire Fighters Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr. Sullivan Papain, as counsel to the families, views the NTSB's findings as a confirmation of the massive failures and negligence by Grimaldi Deep Sea, American Maritime Services, Ports America, and the City of Newark. The investigation underscores that the Newark Fire Department woefully lacked adequate maritime firefighting training necessary to safely address a shipboard blaze of this magnitude. This absence of preparation left Fire Fighters Acabou and Brooks, dedicated public servants, without any of the training required to navigate the hazardous conditions they encountered. We agree with the NTSB that this lack of training occurred directly due to the failures of leadership at the City of Newark and its Fire Department. The lack of leadership at the City of Newark continues to be apparent by the fact that City of Newark fire fighters still have not received the training they require to fight these fires in the future, despite almost two (2) years passing since this tragedy. Sullivan Papain remains steadfast in its commitment to seeking justice for the families of these fallen heroes. The ongoing litigation reveals a critical need for enhanced safety protocols to prevent shipboard fires from occurring and sufficient training to protect firefighters responding to emergencies at Port Newark, one of the nation's busiest ports. We honor Fire Fighters Acabou and Brooks by advocating for accountability and meaningful change."
RELATED | Newark fallen firefighter families file lawsuits after deadly cargo ship fire
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