Fire Failure of a diesel generator caused the fire that stranded the cruise ship Carnival Splendor off the Mexican coast in November 2010, the Coast Guard stated in a July 15 report of the incident. Failure of a watch-stander on the vessel’s bridge to reset a fire alarm panel after a fog-alert system was activated led to the malfunction and blaze, the Coast Guard report stated. The fire disabled the ship, leaving its 4,500 passengers and crew members stranded for four days until it could be towed into port. In the aftermath of the accident, the Coast Guard issued two new alerts regarding fire protection and safety-systems procedures – particularly as they relate to the fog-alert system. The Coast Guard also directed the vessel’s owners, Carnival Cruise Lines, to improve guidance relating to conduct and evaluation of fire drills.
