Grimaldi Deep Sea (a company of the Grimaldi Group), operator of the ro/ro vessel Grande Costa d’Avorio, would like to thank the Unified Command and all supporting authorities and agencies who worked closely together following the fire that broke out on board its vessel whilst at berth at the Port of Newark, New Jersey, on the 5th July.

The leadership and actions of the Unified Command, which consisted of the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Fire Department, and Gallagher Marine Systems, enabled a swift and safe response.

The Italian-flag Grande Costa d’Avorio was completing the loading operations of various rolling units (cars, vans, trucks) when a fire broke out at deck n° 10.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by U.S. Authorities and Grimaldi Deep Sea is an active participant in the ongoing investigation. Alongside the investigation by the U.S. authorities, the Grimaldi Group company is launching its own internal investigation to determine if there are any additional findings that may be helpful in ensuring incidents like this do not occur again.

Grimaldi Deep Sea would also like to further extend its heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of the two firefighters who lost their lives during the incident.

The Grande Costa d’Avorio remains in situ on the berth at Newark whilst operations for the removal of any debris onboard continue. Arrangements will then be made to take the vessel to a repair yard.

The vessel, built in 2011, is deployed on the North America-West Africa regular ro/ro service operated by Grimaldi Deep Sea.

Grimaldi Group press release