Allision of Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi St
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Allision of Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi St. George, Staten Island, New York October 15, 2003 Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-05/01 PB2005-916401 Notation 7628A National Transportation Safety Board Washington, D.C. Marine Accident Report Allision of Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi St. George, Staten Island, New York October 15, 2003 NTSB/MAR-05/01 PB2005-916401 National Transportation Safety Board Notation 7628A 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Adopted March 8, 2005 Washington, D.C. 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2005. Allision of Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi, St. George, Staten Island, New York, October 15, 2003. Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-05/01. Washington, DC. Abstract: This report discusses the allision of the passenger ferry Andrew J. Barberi with maintenance pier B-1 at the Staten Island ferry terminal on October 15, 2003. The ferry carried an estimated 1,500 passengers and 15 crewmembers. Ten passengers died in the accident and 70 were injured. An eleventh seriously injured passenger died 2 months later. Damages totaled more than $8 million, with repair costs of $6.9 million for the Andrew J. Barberi and $1.4 million for the pier. From its investigation of the accident, the Safety Board identified the following safety issues: actions of the assistant captain and captain, oversight of ferry operations by the New York City Department of Transportation, medical oversight of mariners, safety management systems, and the potential contribution of navigation technology to the safety of ferry operations. On the basis of its findings, the Safety Board made recommendations to the New York City Department of Transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard, the States that operate public ferries, and the Passenger Vessel Association. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Recent publications are available in their entirety on the Web at <http://www.ntsb.gov>. Other information about available publications also may be obtained from the Web site or by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Public Inquiries Section, RE-51 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 (800) 877-6799 or (202) 314-6551 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from the National Technical Information Service. To purchase this publication, order report number PB2005-916401 from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of Board reports related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. iii Marine Accident Report Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations . v Executive Summary . vi Factual Information . 1 Accident Narrative . 1 Injuries . 6 Damages . 7 Personnel Information . 8 Regulatory Requirements . 8 Captain . 9 Assistant Captain . 11 Vessel Information . 15 Construction and Equipment . 15 Propulsion System . 17 Certification and Inspection . 19 Wreckage . 20 Waterway Information . 22 Operations of New York City Department of Transportation . 24 Meteorological Information . 25 Medical and Pathological Information . 26 Passenger Injuries . 26 Toxicological Testing . 26 Survival Factors . 28 Crew’s Emergency Actions . 28 Shoreside Emergency Response . 31 Emergency Plans . 34 Emergency Equipment . 35 Tests and Research . 35 Communication System Tests . 36 Propulsion System Tests . 36 Additional Information . 37 Staten Island Ferry Rules and Policies . 37 Coast Guard Oversight of Staten Island Ferries . 38 Medical Oversight of Mariners . 41 Safety Management Systems . 46 Other Ferry Systems . 49 Passenger Vessel Association . 52 Actions Since Accident . 52 Analysis . 54 General . 54 Exclusions . 54 Accident . 55 Assistant Captain . 56 Contents iv Marine Accident Report Medical Oversight . 58 New York City Department of Transportation . 60 Safety Management Systems . 63 Response to Emergency . 65 On Board Andrew J. Barberi . 65 Shoreside . .68 Navigation Technology . 69 Conclusions . 71 Findings . 71 Probable Cause . 72 Recommendations . ..