The recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines the challenges of marine fires and the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard. In this report, 886 marine fires near the coast were recorded between 2015 and 2025, with about a quarter classified as serious fires.
Statistics on Marine Fires
Between 2015 and 2025, 55 people lost their lives in these fires. One of these incidents involved an event in 2023 where two firefighters in Newark died while responding to a fire on a large cargo ship.
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Challenges in Combating Marine Fires
Following these incidents, the U.S. Coast Guard formed a working group to identify and address the challenges of marine fires. This group has taken actions to standardize marine firefighting programs and create tools for rapid information collection and sharing during fires. However, some gaps still exist:
- Training: The existing training for firefighters on preparedness and response to marine fires is limited. The Coast Guard has collaborated with an emergency response organization to produce online training videos for firefighters.
- Funding: Fire chiefs at four different ports reported that due to budget constraints, justifying the costs of training for firefighters is difficult.
- Delays in Activating Vessel Response Programs: Some vessel owners are delaying the activation of emergency response programs, which can increase risks.
- Fires on Vessels with Alternative Fuels: Vessels using alternative fuels can pose significant risks to the environment and firefighters.
GAO has recommended that the Coast Guard collaborate with fire departments and maritime stakeholders to coordinate training opportunities for vessel operations and distribute necessary information regarding the timing of activating fire response programs. It has also been suggested that Congress amend laws to ensure the preparedness of vessels with alternative fuels.
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