The US uninspected towing vessel Ivory Coast was moored at General Ship Repair (GSR) in Baltimore's Northwest Harbor while undergoing cutting and welding, or "hot work" on the starboard side hull plating in the engine room when a fire ignited and spread to the main deck galley on October 10, 2011. Damage to the engine room, associated machinery, and galley on the main deck was extensive, with repairs estimated to cost over $1million.
We determined the probable cause of the fire on board the uninspected towing vessel Ivory Coast was sparks from welding and cutting repair work conducted with an oxygen-acetylene torch igniting unprotected combustible material in the engine room.
