On May 26, 2022, about 0730 eastern daylight time, a fire broke out in the funnel of the 952-foot-long passenger vessel Carnival Freedom while the vessel was docked at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. The fire was extinguished by the vessel’s emergency response team.

There were no injuries or pollution reported. The United States has been invited to participate in the investigation as a Substantially Interested State (SIS). When a flag State and/or investigating State designates the United States an SIS, the US Coast Guard represents the US Administration. The NTSB may join the Coast Guard in their role as an SIS under the International Maritime Organization Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident.​

​​Under the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code, the Office of Marine Safety participates with the US Coast Guard as a Substantially Interested State in investigations of serious marine casualties involving foreign-flagged vessels in international waters. For example, the NTSB often participates in casualty investigations that involve foreign-flagged cruise ships with US citizens on board. Given the international nature of the marine industry and the number of foreign registered cruise and cargo ships operating from US ports, the investigation of casualties involving both domestic and foreign registered vessels promotes marine safety worldwide. The NTSB was invited to participate in the casualty as an SIS. We have produced an investigation close-out memorandum.

​Download the close-out memo from the Docket.