Caribbean Fantasy Fire Mass Rescue Operations and it’s Effect Mr. Paul Culver, MEP 7th Coast Guard District (dxc) Miami, FL Paul.m.culver@uscg.mil

Agenda Brief overview of Caribbean Fantasy Engine room fire A little History… Lessons Learned from the Past and Present Effect on- Economy/Recovery costs of Salvage Tourism Environmental effects Perception of uncoordinated Response

Caribbean Fantasy Fire-San Juan PR-August 17, 2017 511 passengers 3 miles offshore San Juan Harbor, engine room fire is out of control Drifting towards land (Boca de Vieja Bay) Winds and current southwest towards shore Captain orders abandon ship-calls Sector San Juan Many good Sams and CG 55’ Buoy boat respond FRC not commissioned underway on sea trials, No experience in managing a marine disaster! Now let’s look back 32 years ago to see a similar incident

A. Regina Grounding at Isla de Mona, PR History-Feb 15, 1985 A. Regina Grounding at Isla de Mona, PR February 15, 1985 Grounding and Shipwreck At 1:40 AM the master of A. Regina contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and described the vessel's situation, advised that there was no immediate danger. Note: The focus was on the rescue of personnel only. Due to the advise relayed by the Master that there was no immediate danger no actions were taken to prevent a grounding or damage to the marine sanctuary. At 10:30 AM, the frigate USS Joseph Hewes arrived on scene but due to surf conditions Joseph Hewes was unable to use its small boats to transport persons from the beach. Note: If it was to rough to transfer personnel using the Hewes small boats the drift of the vessel again was not discussed or any actions to prevent the vessel from grounding. At 1:15 PM, nearly 36 hours after the grounding all evacuees had arrived to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Note: Debris and fuel from the A Regina grounding had already started to wash ashore on the reef and endangering the turtles and other wildlife on the island.

NTSB-Impact of rescue & total loss “Monitor the vessel's progress along the charted course line by plotting navigation fixes so as to detect the vessel's set and drift”. Master was held responsible for the grounding by failing to “monitor the vessel’s progress towards the reef” by plotting navigational fixes to detect the vessel’s set and drift.

Unable to re-float, vessel a total loss 1985-1990 1985-No actions to stabilize the MRO situation concerning the vessel drifting onto the reef Unable to re-float, vessel a total loss Debris, & Fuel endangering the coral reef & marine life Big picture lost by “Master” and Coast Guard during the incident

1985-1990 (Cont.) In 1990 the wreck of A. Regina was removed and scrapped in situ from the Isla de Mona reef by Titan Maritime Industries, a marine salvage company using the jack-up barge procured from the federal government.

Caribbean Fantasy Fire/Abandon Ship PR-August 17, 2017 32 years later in Puerto Rico

Mass Rescue Operation Decisions that effect… Life Safety Stability of the Incident Environmental effects today and in the future Did someone have the big picture?

Abandon Ship

On-Scene Response

What are the effects during and after the incident Effluent neighborhoods are impacted with pollution Decision…Looking beyond the rescue to the effects of the abandon ship order ashore… Public Beaches Locals and tourist denied access to beaches due to oil pollution and debris…. How could these situations be mitigated?

What are the effects during and after the incident (Cont.) Protected coral reefs damaged by the ship grounding and leaking fuel….. Decision…Looking beyond the rescue to the effects of the abandon ship order ashore… Impact to shipping and port operations….. Port closed, shipping channels blocked…. How could these situations be mitigated?

What are the effects during and after the incident (Cont.) Mass Rescue can cause Mass Casualty and effectively overwhelm the local medical facilities….. Decision…Looking beyond the rescue to the effects of the abandon ship order ashore… Medical surge support requested or indicated in the MRO contingency plan? How could these situations be mitigated? Include salvage and marine fire fighting as primary stakeholders to help establish the big picture.

Resources Available

Landing Sites Staging Area Landing Site EMS Triage Tent Check the ACP for identified staging areas and suitable landing sites Staging area Buses & Ambulances In Use Landing Site EMS Triage Tent

Landing Site

Triage

Accountability A Regina took nearly 36 hours to accomplish their accountability!

Lessons Learned: Then and Now An established MRO plan was active and had recently been exercised. The MRO function of the plan was effective but the salvage and preventive portion of the MRO was not included. Note: Lesson learned, invite your savage and marine firefighters into your MRO plan as stakeholders to help maintain the big picture. What is the effect of a Mass Rescue Operation in your community?

Caribbean Fantasy Fire-San Juan PR-August 17, 2017 511 passengers 3 miles offshore San Juan Harbor, engine room fire out of control Drifting towards land (Boca de Vieja Bay) Winds and current southwest towards shore Captain orders abandon ship-calls Sector San Juan Many good Sams and CG 55’ Buoy boat respond FRC not commissioned underway on sea trials designated as the SAR OSC, No experience in a marine incident.

Mass Rescue Operation can & will Effect your community Oil/Hazardous services Weekly transfers (LPG/ Bunkers/JP & Gas) Dock and berth operations Towing and ship assisting services Commercial diving, firefighting, and ship services Stevedore and chandler services Hydrographic surveys & Subsea Operations Port/Community recovery to normality

Questions and Thank you