The capability of Fire and Rescue New South Wales to effectively respond to a shipboard fire in Port Kembla, was limited by:
The ATSB welcomes the action taken Fire and Rescue New South Wales but considers that further action is required to adequately address the safety issue.
On 18 February 2021, Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) advised the ATSB of the following safety action, as summarised below, taken to improve marine firefighting awareness and capability since the Iron Chieftain incident:
In addition, FRNSW commented that the Iron Chieftain fire was safely extinguished and the incident brought to a safe conclusion with no loss of life, major injury to crew or firefighters, escape of pollutants into the environment or damage to port infrastructure despite FRNSW not being the initial combat agency.
Additionally, FRNSW stated that, while not a marine firefighting specialist, the use of subject matter experts (as denoted within the Australian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS)), from the vessel, port authorities, marine consultants and the Victorian Metropolitan Fire Brigade’s Marine Command, assisted firefighting efforts with instantaneous specialist advice and input into the formulation of Incident Action Plans (IAP).
Finally, FRNSW advised that, although located on a vessel, the fire was similar to ones that FRNSW routinely attend that involve fire in underground basements and confined spaces, involving deep seated rubber fires and the use of breathing apparatus, atmospheric monitoring and foam. FRNSW was therefore able to adapt its many Standard Operational Guidelines to safely respond to and conclude this incident.
The ATSB acknowledges the safety action taken and proposed by Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) in response to the ATSB investigation. However, the ATSB considers that further safety action by FRNSW, in particular, action potentially resulting from work underway through the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) is necessary to address the safety issue. Therefore, the ATSB issues the following safety recommendation to FRNSW.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that Fire and Rescue New South Wales takes further action to address the limited marine firefighting capability in Port Kembla due to the lack of specialised marine firefighting expertise, experience, updated training and resources.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) accept the ATSB recommendation and will continue to work towards a nationally consistent approach to marine firefighting as a member of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) Working Group for Marine Firefighting. FRNSW will consider all recommendations that result from the work of the AFAC working group particular those that relate to policy and training.
FRNSW maintains the position that it is not the lead or combat agency under relevant legislation, plans or guidelines. FRNSW will seek to work closely with the State Emergency Management Committee, Transport for NSW and Port Authority of NSW to establish appropriate protocols while noting that FRNSW is unwilling to accept the role of lead or combat agency in circumstances where it is not legislated, endorsed by Government or appropriately resourced.
In the interim, FRNSW will:
FRNSW will write to the ATSB by 7 February 2022 to advice on the progress of the above initiatives.
The ATSB acknowledges and welcomes the continuing safety action by Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW), in particular work underway through the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) which has the potential to address the identified safety issue. The ATSB will continue to monitor the progress of safety action underway and will re-assess the safety issue following the anticipated FRNSW update in February 2022.
FRNSW will continue to work with all member agencies of the Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) Working Group for Marine Firefighting to develop a nationally consistent approach to marine firefighting.
FRNSW plans to run an independently moderated debriefing workshop for the Iron Chieftain fire with input from all FRNSW commanders that were involved on-scene.
Additionally, FRNSW have undertaken quarterly meetings with the Port Authority of NSW (PANSW) and have planned and participated in several training exercises in concert with PANSW and other port stakeholders.
FRNSW have also notified Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and PANSW that it will not accept the role of incident controller where it is not legislated but will continue to assist PANSW in the capacity of a support agency and member of a multi-agency incident control team as required. TfNSW, FRNSW and PANSW have established an interagency working group to review the current arrangements for responding to fires on vessels in coastal and port waters and FRNSW continues to consult and collaborate with PANSW to update relevant plans and MOUs in relation to shipboard fires.
The ATSB acknowledges the continued commitment by FRNSW to address the safety issue, in particular, work underway with the AFAC and the interagency working group with TfNSW and PANSW. The ATSB will continue to monitor the progress of ongoing safety action and re-assess the residual risk when advice of safety action is received.
Fire Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) advised the ATSB that draft Marine Firefighting Capability Guidelines had been developed by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) Working Group for Marine Firefighting. The draft guidelines included:
FRNSW also advised of expanded working relationships with port authorities, harbour masters and shipping companies to increase vessel access, familiarisation and exercise opportunities for firefighters at fire stations with an identified maritime risk profile.
FRNSW continue to work with the Port Authority of New South Wales in the capacity of a support agency and member of a multi-agency incident control team as required and to establish and define updated plans and MOUs in relation to shipboard fires.
The ATSB acknowledges the progress made by FRNSW in working to address the safety issue. In particular, the development of draft Marine Firefighting Capability Guidelines and the adoption by FRNSW of updated marine emergency response training for firefighters, has the potential to address the safety issue. The ATSB will continue to monitor the progress of ongoing safety action and re-assess the residual risk when the draft measures advised above have been finalised and implemented.
