All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S03E03.Fire.in.the.Hold.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

A DEADLY EXPLOSION

ROCKS A MASSIVE CONTAINER SHIP.

CONTAINERS BLEW
OFF LIKE ROCKETS.

JUST A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION.

RAMON!

I CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING.

BLACK SMOKE COMING.

IT WAS A FLAMING HELL.

ABANDON SHIP!

ABANDON SHIP!

ALL CREW TO LIFEBOAT STATION.

IF THERE WAS
ONE EXPLOSION

THERE COULD BE ANOTHER.

THINGS COULD GO FROM BAD
TO HORRIBLE IN AN INSTANT.

EVERYTHING
IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

WHEN INVESTIGATORS
FINALLY GET ON BOARD.

ALL OF THE CONTAINERS
WERE DAMAGED.

IT WAS A MESS.

HOW SHOULD WE FIND
ANYTHING IN THIS CHAOS?

THEY FIND TRACES
OF A CHEMICAL COCKTAIL.

THAT COULD TURN A CARGO HOLD
INTO A TICKING TIME BOMB.

IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT
WITH A CHEMICAL REACTION

SOMETHING WILL EXPLODE.

AND
UNCOVERS A DANGER

THAT THREATENS SHIPPING
AROUND THE WORLD.

UNTIL SOMEONE
FINDS A SOLUTION,

SHIPS WILL BE DESTROYED,
AND PEOPLE WILL DIE.

CONNECT THE HOSES!

IN THE
PORT OF NEW ORLEANS,

THE SUN'S DOWN,
BUT IT'S STILL HOT.

THE 984 FOOT CONTAINER
SHIP, FLAMINIA,

IS BEING LOADED WITH CARGO.

IT WAS A
VERY NICE NIGHT.

FLAMINIA WAS LOADED
WITH JUST ABOUT

EVERYTHING ONE COULD IMAGINE.

PROBABLY A THOUSAND
DIFFERENT CARGOES.

EVERYTHING IS
OKAY DOWN THERE?

YES, SIR, ALL GOOD

CHIEF
MATE CEZARY SIUTA

IS IN CHARGE OF THE
ENTIRE LOADING OPERATION.

HOW MANY CANS
GOING INTO HOLD FOUR?

Aruk: 262.

SHIP'S
BOSUN, ARNOLD NISPEROS

SUPERVISES THE DECK CREW.

I'M THE ONE WHO GIVE
THE CREW THEIR JOB, THEIR TASKS.

IT'LL TAKE
ABOUT 12 HOURS TO LOAD,

BEFORE FLAMINIA HEADS OUT
TO ITS NEXT PORT OF CALL.

THE LOADING,
DISCHARGING, THAT'S A BIG JOB.

WE MUST CHECK ALL THE
CONTAINERS AND WE MAKE SURE

THAT IT IS STORED IN
THE RIGHT POSITION.

AFTER THIS, A FULL HOUSE.

ABLE-BODIED
SEAMAN IBRAHIM ARUK HAS BEEN

WITH THE SHIP FOR
JUST THREE MONTHS.

WORKING A SHIP
IS VERY HARD JOB,

BUT YOU MEET A LOT
OF GOOD FRIENDS.

WE TREAT EACH OTHER
LIKE BROTHERS.

WE TREAT THE SHIP
LIKE OUR OWN HOME.

WHEN FULLY
LOADED, FLAMINIA CAN CARRY

MORE THAN 3,000 CONTAINERS.

EACH ONE IS LOADED
ACCORDING TO ITS WEIGHT,

CARGO AND FINAL DESTINATION.

WE HAVE A
LOADING PLAN; ROW ONE,

ROW TWO, ROW THREE, LIKE THIS.

DANGEROUS GOODS
ARE SORTED BY WHAT'S SAFE

TO GO IN A CARGO HOLD AND WHAT
NEEDS TO BE STOWED ON DECK.

IF THIS IS DANGEROUS
CARGO, CORROSIVE

OR FLAMMABLE, THEY PUT A LABEL.

THE SHIP'S EIGHT
MASSIVE HOLDS ARE EQUIPPED

WITH VERTICAL RAILS TO GUIDE
EACH CONTAINER INTO POSITION.

IT'S A SYSTEM BUILT FOR SPEED.

IT'S VERY FAST,
VERY PRECISE.

CONTAINER CRANES ARE SO
EFFICIENT AT MOVING CARGO

THAT WHAT USED TO TAKE
WEEKS CAN TAKE HOURS.

WHEN A HOLD IS
FILLED, ENORMOUS HATCH COVERS

ARE LOWERED IN PLACE AND MORE
CONTAINERS ARE LOADED ON TOP.

THERE ARE AT LEAST
FIVE MILLION CONTAINERS

MOVING ACROSS THE WORLD
AT ANY ONE GIVEN DAY.

IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE A CROSS
BETWEEN WATCHING A BALLET

AND AN ASSEMBLY LINE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE
THE ARC OF THE CONTAINERS

MOVING THROUGH THE AIR AS
TRUCK AFTER TRUCK COMES

AND IS EITHER LOADED,
OR DISCHARGED.

THESE CONTAINERS
HOLD EVERYTHING FROM CLOTHING

AND FURNITURE TO
INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS,

ALL BOUND FOR THE
EUROPEAN MARKET.

90% OF ALL MANUFACTURED
GOODS ARE CARRIED IN CONTAINERS.

BOSUN, READY TO
SECURE THE DECK?

READY, SIR.

ONCE
EVERYTHING IS LOADED,

THE DOCKWORKERS SECURE THE LAST

OF THE CONTAINERS
FOR THE VOYAGE AHEAD.

THE NEXT MORNING,
FLAMINIA HEADS OUT TO SEA.

AUTOPILOT ENGAGED, SIR.

IN 15 DAYS IT
SHOULD MAKE THE APPROXIMATE

6,000 MILE VOYAGE TO THE
PORT OF ANTWERP, BELGIUM.

IN ADDITION TO 23
OFFICERS AND CREW,

FLAMINIA IS ALSO CARRYING
PAYING PASSENGERS.

THERE'S AN EASY WAY TO DO
THINGS, GET ON A PLANE AND FLY.

NOTHING COULD BE
MORE BORING TO ME.

CONTAINER SHIPS; GREAT FUN.

YOU PAY THEM AND
THEY'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE.

JOHNNY ROSEN
HAS A TICKET TO EUROPE.

IT'S NOT THE FASTEST WAY
TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC,

BUT HE LOVES IT.

IF YOU'RE FOOTLOOSE
AND FANCY-FREE

AND DON'T GIVE A DAMN
WHEN YOU GET THERE,

YOU'RE PERFECT FOR A
FREIGHTER.

THE BEST PART OF IT IS.

HEY, COME ON IN.

YOU CAN WANDER
AROUND THE SHIP,

HANG OUT IN THE BRIDGE WITH
THE OFFICERS, WITH THE CREW.

I WOULD ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS.

THIS IS THE WHOLE SHIP.

SO COOL!

THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO
SHOW OFF THEIR SHIP

AND GIVE YOU THE GRAND TOUR.

THEY'LL TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE ROOM

AND ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

YOU GET TO SEE EVERYTHING.

IT'S THEIR BABY AND THEY
LOVE TO SHOW IT OFF.

MAY I?

YEAH, SURE.

NICE.

NO PROBLEM.

CHIEF
MATE CEZARY SIUTA

IS SECOND IN
COMMAND ON FLAMINIA.

THE AMAZING MR.
SIUTA, HELL OF A GUY.

THE CHIEF
MATE IS SET TO GO HOME

WHEN THEY FINALLY REACH ANTWERP.

HE HAD A WIFE
AND CHILD IN POLAND

AND HE DAYDREAMED ABOUT
GETTING BACK TO THEM.

OTHER CREW MEMBERS
ARE ALSO DUE FOR HOME-LEAVE

WHEN THEY REACH PORT.

ONE OF THEM IS
SEAMAN RAMON PARCON.

HE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIS FAMILY.

WE SELDOM
SEE EACH OTHER,

BECAUSE HE'S WORKING FOR
SEVEN TO NINE MONTHS ON BOARD.

AND GO HOME FOR TWO MONTHS
AND THEN LEAVE AGAIN.

SO HE IS ALWAYS
EXCITED TO GO HOME.

HE TOLD ME, "HOW ARE YOU?

"I WILL BE HOME NEXT WEEK.

"I'LL SEE YOU.

"I LOVE YOU."

I ANSWERED IT BACK WITH, "I
LOVE YOU TOO AND SEE YOU."

13 DAYS
AFTER LEAVING NEW ORLEANS,

FLAMINIA HAS TRAVELED

MORE THAN HALFWAY
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

IT'S BEEN A SMOOTH VOYAGE
SO FAR, BUT NOT FOR LONG.

WE GOT SMOKE IN
CARGO HOLD FOUR!

THE SHIP'S
SENSORS DETECT A PROBLEM

IN ONE OF THE CARGO HOLDS.

CAPTAIN, WE HAVE AN
ALARM IN HOLD FOUR.

IN THE
MASSIVE CARGO HOLD BELOW

ARE 262 CONTAINERS.

THERE'S NO WAY TO TELL WHICH
OF THEM SET OFF THE ALARM.

THE SHIP IS FULL OF
STACKS OF BOXES NINE HIGH

AND 14 ACROSS, WITH ANOTHER 160

OR SO STACKED ON
THE HATCH COVERS.

IF THERE'S A FIRE IN ONE
OF THE BOXES BURIED DEEP

IN THE STACK, YOU'VE
GOT A BIG PROBLEM.

I HAVE COMMAND.

THE CAPTAIN
TAKES CONTROL OF THE SHIP.

YOU BETTER
ORGANIZE A FIRE CREW.

YES SIR.

ALL CREW TO MUSTER STATION!

ALL CREW TO MUSTER STATION!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

I HEARD THIS WHOO,
WHOO, THE FIRE ALARM.

IBRAHIM IS ONE

OF THE DESIGNATED
FIREFIGHTERS ON BOARD.

WHAT IS IT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I FEEL AFRAID.

THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME

I EXPERIENCE WITH A REAL FIRE.

I'M STOPPING HER.

THE CAPTAIN
INITIATES A SAFETY MANEUVER.

THE SHIP WAS
TRAVELING 20 KNOTS.

IF YOU'VE GOT A FIRE YOU DON'T
WANT A 20 MILE AN HOUR WIND

BLOWING ACROSS THE
DECK OF THE SHIP,

SO YOU STOP THE SHIP
DEAD IN THE WATER.

IS THERE FIRE?

WE'LL SEE.

IN THE MUSTER STATION,
THE CREW ARE ASSISTING ME

TO PUT ON THE FIRE SUIT.

HOSES, EXTINGUISHERS.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

THERE WAS A
TREMENDOUS COMMOTION.

EVERYBODY SWUNG INTO ACTION.

EVERY CREWMAN HAD A FIREHOSE
DRAPED ON HIS SHOULDER.

AND THEY WERE DRAGGING
ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT

AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
TO THE FRONT OF THE SHIP.

LISTEN,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY,

MEET US ABOVE CARGO HOLD FOUR.

YES SIR.

THE REST OF YOU,
FOLLOW ME.

LET'S GO!

MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!

CONTAINER SHIPS
ARE SET UP TO FIGHT FIRE

IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU CAN TRY TO COOL THE
FIRE WITH FIRE HOSES

AND YOU CAN TRY TO
SMOTHER THE FIRE WITH CO2.

RELEASE CO2,
HOLD NUMBER FOUR.

FOR A FIRE TO

YOU NEED FUEL, YOU NEED
HEAT, YOU NEED OXYGEN.

YES SIR,
CO2 TO HOLD FOUR.

TO FIGHT A FIRE,
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE

TO TAKE AWAY ANY
ONE OF THOSE THREE.

THE SHIP'S
BUILT-IN FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM

IS DESIGNED TO SNUFF OUT A FIRE

BY RELEASING CARBON DIOXIDE GAS

INTO ANY ONE OF THE CARGO HOLDS.

WHEN YOU POUR CO2 INTO
AN ENCLOSED HOLD,

ALL OF THE OXYGEN

IS FORCED OUT OF THE
HOLD, THE FIRE GOES OUT.

THAT'S WHAT IS
SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

BUT THIS TIME,

SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

IT'S
THE ENGINE ROOM!

AN ALARM
INDICATES CO2 GAS

IN THE ENGINE ROOM
WHERE IT SHOULDN'T BE.

IT TRIGGERS A
SERIES OF SHUTDOWNS

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO RESTART THE ENGINE.

THERE ARE
LOTS OF SITUATIONS

WHERE HAVING A DEAD ENGINE
GIVES YOU A BIG PROBLEM.

IF THERE'S FIRE
AND THE WIND CHANGES DIRECTION,

THE CAPTAIN CAN'T
MANEUVER THE SHIP

TO CONTROL WHERE
THE FLAMES SPREAD.

THE FLAMINIA WAS
JUST SO FAR OUT AT SEA,

WELL BEYOND THE RANGE OF
HELICOPTERS TO HELP THEM.

THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.

THE FIRE
CREW ARRIVES ON THE SCENE.

WHATEVER'S SMOKING
IN THE HOLD BELOW

APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

WHAT IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW!

NOT ONLY IS SMOKE, IT'S
BIG, BIG, BIG SMOKE.

THE CO2 DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE STOPPING IT.

CONNECT THE HOSES!

COME ON, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO GET FIRE HOSES DOWN

INTO THE HOLD OF THE SHIP.

SO WHAT YOU DO WITH
YOUR FIRE HOSES

IS YOU TRY TO CONTAIN THE FIRE

BY COOLING THE AREA
AROUND WHERE IT'S BURNING.

IF YOU CAN LIMIT IT TO ONE
HATCH YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

AND I PREPARE THIS
FIRE HOSE AND THEN I HEAR...

CONTAINERS BLEW OFF THE
DECK JUST LIKE ROCKETS.

AND THE WHOLE SHIP SHOOK.

A MASSIVE
FIREBALL ERUPTS

FROM THE SHIP'S CARGO HOLD.

THE CAPTAIN DOESN'T KNOW IF ANY

OF HIS FIRE FIGHTERS
ARE STILL ALIVE.

I WAS SAFE IN
THE MUSTER STATION

AND I HEARD ONE GUY
SHOUTING, "THEY ARE ALL DEAD!

"THEY ARE ALL DEAD."

IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC,

CONTAINER SHIP
FLAMINIA IS ON FIRE.

THERE'S A MASSIVE BURNING CRATER

AND SEVEN FIRE
FIGHTERS ARE MISSING,

THE SHIP IS ON FIRE.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BIG SMOKE.

THIS EXPLOSION
WAS SO INTENSE,

THE HATCH COVERS WERE BLOWN OFF,

CONTAINERS WERE
FALLING INTO THE OCEAN.

THERE WAS A WALL OF FLAME
BURNING OUT OF CONTROL.

THERE
ARE STILL THOUSANDS

OF CONTAINERS ON BOARD.

THE CAPTAIN HAS TO GET
EVERYONE OFF THE SHIP

BEFORE ANY MORE EXPLODE.

ABANDON SHIP!

ABANDON SHIP!

ALL CREW TO LIFEBOAT STATION.

IF THERE
WAS ONE EXPLOSION

THERE COULD BE ANOTHER.

IT BECAME A TICKING TIME BOMB.

MAYDAY!

MAYDAY!

MAYDAY!

THIS IS THE MV MSC FLAMINIA!

THINGS COULD GO FROM
BAD TO HORRIBLE IN AN INSTANT.

THE CREW
BOARDS A LIFEBOAT

NEAR THE BACK OF THE SHIP.

THE CAPTAIN TRIES TO
CONTACT HIS FIREFIGHTERS.

FORWARD
STATION COME IN!

HE HAS NO IDEA IF
ANY OF THEM ARE STILL ALIVE.

FORWARD
STATION, PLEASE RESPOND!

NOBODY IS REPLYING TO
THE CALL OF THE CAPTAIN.

ON
THE FORWARD DECK,

ARNOLD HAS SURVIVED
THE EXPLOSION.

BUT HE'S DEAFENED BY THE BLAST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED FOR ME.

I ONLY HEAR WHOO, LIKE
ECHO ON THE BOTH SIDES.

BLOOD COMING HERE.

I CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING.

BLACK SMOKE COMING.

AND THEN I HEAR...

BOSUN, HELP ME!

HELP ME!

AND I CRAWL.

I TELL HIM, DON'T STAND, BECAUSE
IF YOU STAND WE DIE ALSO.

THE FLAME HERE.

SO WE MAKE ONLY
CRAWL GOING FORWARD.

THE SURVIVORS
FOUND THEMSELVES

AT THE FORWARD END
OF HATCH NUMBER FOUR

WITH AN INFERNO RAGING A
FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM THEM.

THE PASSAGEWAY BACK WAS
COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY CONTAINERS

THAT HAD FALLEN ON DECK.

THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN, TRAPPED
ON THE BOW OF A BURNING SHIP.

THROUGH
THE SMOKE AND HAZE,

ARNOLD FINDS FOUR
OF THE CREWMAN,

BUT TWO ARE STILL MISSING.

WHERE'S THE REST?

SEAMAN RAMON
PARCON AND THE CHIEF MATE.

THE SAFETY OF THE
CREW, THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I GO BACK AGAIN AND I LOOK.

I SHOUT, CHIEF MATE!

RAMON!

RAMON!

BECAUSE I KNOW PARCON
AND CHIEF MATE TOGETHER.

RAMON!

I SAW ONE CREW.

WHO IS THIS?

WHO'S CREW?

I CANNOT IDENTIFY THIS CREW,
TOTALLY FIRE ON HIS BODY.

HEY!

GET THE TARP!

IT'S THE CHIEF
MATE, HE'S BARELY CONSCIOUS.

THIS IS A VERY
BAD SITUATION.

BUT HE IS STILL TALKING.

HELP ME BOSUN.

HIS VOICE,
IT'S LIKE A ECHO,

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
BOS AHH, YOU FIND ME."

LIKE THAT, "YOU FIND ME."

WE'LL GET YOU OUT!

THE
CREW AT THE OTHER END

OF THE SHIP FINISHES
BOARDING THE LIFEBOAT.

FORWARD
STATION, COME IN!

AS THE CAPTAIN
MAKES ONE LAST DESPERATE CALL.

FORWARD
STATION COME IN!

BOSS,
CAPTAIN IS CALLING!

CAN
YOU HEAR ME, OVER?

BOSS!

CAPTAIN'S SHOUTING,

"FORWARD STATION,
FORWARD STATION."

I CANNOT HEAR, LOST MY EAR.

FORWARD STATION!

PLEASE RESPOND!

CAPTAIN, IT'S BOSUN.

WE'RE INJURED.

THEY'RE ALIVE!

THEY KNOW THAT THERE
ARE PEOPLE INJURED.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA
ABANDON THESE GUYS.

LOWER THE
EMBARKATION LADDER!

WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU!

COPY!

LET'S GO!

THEY LOWER
THE EMERGENCY LADDER

AND PREPARE TO ESCAPE.

THE CAPTAIN REALLY
NEEDED TO REACH THESE GUYS

AS SOON AS THEY COULD
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW

WHEN THE NEXT
EXPLOSION MIGHT COME.

LOWER US DOWN!

PULL THE CABLE RELEASE!

THEY LAUNCH THE
LIFEBOAT INTO DANGEROUS WATER.

INSIDE THE LIFEBOAT,
I LOOK INTO THE WATER

AND I SAW LOTS OF
CONTAINERS ARE FLOATING.

THERE'S A
MINEFIELD OF JAGGED DEBRIS

THAT COULD SNAG THE LIFEBOAT
AND ENDANGER EVERYONE ON BOARD.

THEY MOVE WITH CAUTION
TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE SHIP.

PARCON!

ARNOLD
KEEPS SEARCHING

FOR THE LAST MISSING
SAILOR, RAMON PARCON.

RAMON!

I SHOUTING, SHOUTING,
NOBODY ANSWER.

AFTER MAKING
IT THROUGH THE DEBRIS,

THE LIFEBOAT REACHES
THE ESCAPE LADDER.

FORWARD STATION,
PREPARE TO ABANDON SHIP!

THE INJURED MEN
HELP EACH OTHER GET ABOARD.

ANOTHER EXPLOSION
COULD COME ANY SECOND.

BOSUN!

CAPTAIN TO BOSUN!

PARCON!

BOSUN,
WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW!

PARCON!

CAPTAIN TELL ME, "BOSUN,
LEAVE THE SHIP, WE GO NOW!"

I HAVE NO CHOICE.

I GO DOWN ALSO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED FROM PARCON.

WHERE'S PARCON?

I WAS REALLY VERY SAD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT PARCON IS GONE.

I SAW MY CREW, I
SAW CAPTAIN, NO SPEAK.

SOME PEOPLE CRYING.

ONLY YESTERDAY, WE ARE
VERY HAPPY, SINGING

AND NOW WE ARE HERE.

I WAS SHOCKED.

THEY ARE BURNED AND
THEY HAVE NO EYELASHES,

NO EYEBROWS, NO HAIR.

SIUTA WAS
OMINOUSLY QUIET.

WE KNEW HE WAS IN DEEP TROUBLE.

I AM AFRAID IF NO ONE
RESCUE US IN 24 HOURS,

HALF OF THE CREW WILL DIE
BECAUSE OF THEIR INJURY.

WE WAITED A COUPLE OF
HOURS INSIDE THE LIFEBOAT.

THERE'S A SHIP,
I CAN SEE IT!

SUDDENLY, ON THE HORIZON,
ANOTHER CONTAINER SHIP;

THE DS CROWN AND THEY
CAME TO THE RESCUE.

THE SHIP HAS
RESPONDED TO THE MAYDAY

AND THE SURVIVORS
ARE HOISTED ABOARD.

WHEN I WAS IN DS CROWN AND
SEEING THE FLAMINIA BURNING,

I FEEL VERY LUCKY.

WE ARE SURVIVED.

NOW WE ARE ON BIG TANKER.

THIS HAUNTING
VIDEO, SHOT BY ONE OF THE CREW,

SHOWS HOW NARROW THEIR
ESCAPE ACTUALLY WAS.

THIS IS MY
LAST VIEW OF MSC FLAMINIA.

IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
HORRIFYING TO SEE YOUR SHIP,

YOUR HOME, BELCHING
FLAME AND THEN FIRE.

IT'S NOTHING ANY SAILOR
WOULD EVER WANNA SEE.

THERE'S
A DESPERATE EFFORT

TO SAVE THE CHIEF MATE,
BUT IT'S TOO LATE.

CEZARY SIUTA DIES
FROM HIS INJURIES.

A SECOND CREW MEMBER
LATER SUCCUMBS

TO HIS BURNS IN A HOSPITAL.

RAMON PARCON IS NEVER FOUND.

THE FATHER OF FOUR IS
DECLARED LOST AT SEA.

WE ARE
VERY DEVASTATED.

HE'S SUPPOSED TO GO HOME
A WEEK AFTER THAT EMAIL.

WHAT WILL WE DO NOW?

THAT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT COMES TO MY MIND.

WHAT WILL WE DO NOW?

TWO DAYS LATER,
FLAMINIA IS STILL BURNING

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC.

AND THE SEARCH FOR
ANSWERS HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

BECAUSE THE SHIP IS GERMAN
OWNED, THE FEDERAL BUREAU

OF MARINE CASUALTY
INVESTIGATION TAKES THE CASE.

LEAD INVESTIGATOR HARALD
ERDBEER IS IN CHARGE.

OKAY, LET'S SEE
WHAT WE HAVE.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO
LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION

INTO THE FLAMINIA CASE
BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION

AND THE FIRE ON BOARD AND
PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIFE.

ERDBEER,
IS A MASTER MARINER

AND AN EXPERT IN
MARITIME SAFETY.

IT'S HIS JOB TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.

REAL EVIDENCE IS VERY
IMPORTANT PART

OF THE INVESTIGATION,

SO WE WERE VERY CURIOUS
TO SEE THE SHIP.

THE EVIDENCE
HARALD NEEDS IS ABOARD FLAMINIA.

BUT THE SHIP IS ON FIRE
ABOUT 600 MILES FROM LAND.

IT'S THE JOB OF SALVAGE
MASTER CHRIS BOS TO SAVE IT.

OUR INTEREST IS
IN SAVING THE VESSEL

AND AS MUCH CARGO
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

BOS IS IN
CHARGE OF THE OPERATION.

WITH THE FIRE RAGING
OUT OF CONTROL,

HIS TEAM NEEDS TO FIND A WAY

TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE
THE ENTIRE SHIP IS LOST.

WE SEE BLACK
SMOKE COMING UP

AND THEN WE GET CLOSER
LOOK AT WHERE THE FIRE IS

AND THEN WE START
COOLING DOWN THE VESSEL.

WITH
HIGH-POWERED HOSES,

THEY BATTLE THE FIRE FOR DAYS.

BUT THEY CAN'T STEP ABOARD

UNTIL THEY'RE SURE
NOTHING ELSE WILL EXPLODE.

THAT'S ALWAYS IN
THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.

YOU'RE WATCHING THE
VESSEL CONSTANTLY.

YOU'RE ON HIGH
ALERT ALL THE TIME.

WITH ALMOST
3,000 CONTAINERS ON BOARD,

THERE'S NO SIMPLE WAY
FOR CHRIS AND HIS TEAM

TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONES
ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER
IT WILL BE POISONOUS

OR HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE AND YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

IT TAKES ALMOST
TWO MONTHS FOR THE TEAM

TO PUT OUT THE FIRE,
CONNECT THE TOWS

AND CONVINCE A PORT
TO ACCEPT FLAMINIA.

WHILE HE WAITS,
HARALD ERDBEER MEETS

WITH THE CAPTAIN AND
SOME OF THE CREW.

OUR HOPE DURING
THE INTERVIEWS WAS

TO GET MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED

AND WHAT WAS THE IGNITION
SOURCE FOR THE FIRE

AND FOR THE EXPLOSION.

THERE
ARE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS

THAT NONE OF THE
CREW CAN ANSWER,

NOT EVEN THE SHIP'S CAPTAIN.

WHAT DO YOU
THINK STARTED THIS?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

ALL WE COULD SEE WAS THE SMOKE.

WHAT
THE CAPTAIN DOES KNOW

RAISES EVEN MORE QUESTIONS.

WE RELEASED THE CO2.

IT SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT.

HARALD HAS A
DOUBLE MYSTERY TO SOLVE.

WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION?

AND WHY DID THE FIREFIGHTING
SYSTEM FAIL TO STOP IT?

WE NEED TO
GET ON THAT SHIP.

ALMOST TWO MONTHS

AFTER A DEADLY
EXPLOSION ON FLAMINIA,

THE STILL SMOLDERING
CONTAINER SHIP

IS TOWED TO PORT IN
WILHELMSHAVEN, GERMANY.

AS THE SHIP ENTERED
THE PORT, THERE WAS A LOT

OF SMELLS FROM THE
BURNT MATERIALS

AND ALL THE RUSTY CONTAINERS.

INVESTIGATOR
HARALD ERDBEER

FINALLY STEPS
ABOARD THE WRECKAGE.

HOW'S IT
LOOKING UP THERE?

EVERYTHING IS
COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

WE GOT A BASKET FROM
ONE OF THE CONTAINER CRANES

AND WE FLEW OVER THE VESSEL
AND MAKE SOME PICTURES.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED
ABOUT THE AMOUNT

OF DAMAGES IN THE
CARGO HOLD AREA.

ALL OF THE CONTAINERS
WERE DAMAGED

AND ALL THE CONTAINERS
WERE BENEATH AND COLLAPSED.

IT WAS A MESS.

I COULD SEE THERE WAS NO
CHANCE TO FIND OUT ANY SOURCE

OF THE FIRE OR WHERE
THE EXPLOSION STARTS.

INVESTIGATORS
SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE

ON THE BRIDGE, WHICH
IS STILL INTACT.

ALL THE INFORMATIONS
THEY'RE COLLECTED IN A COMPUTER.

DATAS FROM THE RUDDER,
FROM THE MAIN ENGINE,

VOICE DATAS FROM THE BRIDGE.

ALL THIS DATA IS
BACKED UP ON ANOTHER DEVICE

KNOWN AS A VOYAGE
DATA RECORDER OR VDR.

CAN YOU GET
THE VDR CAPSULE?

YES.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO GET THE VOICE DATA,

'CAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST
STEPS OF THE SHIP'S COMMAND

AND HOW THEY STARTED
TO FIGHT THE FIRE

ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT THE SITUATION.

FLAMINIA'S VDR
NOT ONLY SURVIVED THE FIRE,

IT'S IN PERFECT CONDITION.

YOU'VE GOT
THE DATAS FROM THE VDR

AND THEN OUR TECHNICAL
OFFICER PREPARED THE REPLAY.

DATA COMES UP,

BUT IT'S NOT WHAT
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

THERE WAS NO VDR DATA.

MAYDAY!
MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

WHEN THE
CREW ABANDONED SHIP,

THE SYSTEMS WERE LEFT RUNNING.

THE SHIP'S COMMAND
DID NOT PUSH THE BUTTON

TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY BACKUP.

THE INFORMATION
RECORDED ON THE VDR

IS OVERWRITTEN EVERY
12 HOURS WITH NEW DATA.

THE DATA RECORDED AT THE TIME
OF THE ACCIDENT IS LONG GONE.

IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE
WE HAVE TO FIND OTHER SOLUTIONS

TO BRING THE
INVESTIGATION FORWARD.

WITH NO
V&DR DATA AND LITTLE MORE

THAN TWISTED
WRECKAGE IN THE HOLD,

HARALD NEEDS TO COME
UP WITH A NEW PLAN.

HE NEEDS A CHEMIST.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM.

OH THANK YOU.

I'M NOT A CHEMIST,
SO WE NEED EXPERTISE.

HOW LONG
WAS IT BURNING?

ALMOST TWO MONTHS.

THE
INVESTIGATION TURNS

TO MARITIME CHEMIST
DR. DANA MEISSNER.

FIRE IS A
CHEMICAL REACTION.

AND OF COURSE THAT MAKES

WHAT WAS THE
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL?

WHERE CAME THE OXYGEN FROM
AND WHY SUCH HEAVY DAMAGES?

DANA IS DIRECTOR
OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

AT THE GERMAN INSTITUTE
FOR SHIP SAFETY.

MY FIRST THOUGHTS
WAS, OH, HOW SHOULD WE

FIND ANYTHING IN THIS CHAOS?

EVERYTHING WAS LAYING
AROUND COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

THERE'S 262
CONTAINERS IN CARGO HOLD FOUR.

DANA'S CHALLENGE
IS TO EXAMINE THE CONTENTS

OF EVERY SINGLE CONTAINER AND
FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE OF THEM

COULD HAVE TRIGGERED AN
EXPLOSION SO POWERFUL,

IT WOULD BLAST HUNDREDS
OF TONS OF STEEL

AND CARGO INTO THE AIR.

I REPORTED ALL THESE
DIFFERENT CARGOS.

I MAKE THIS GRAPHIC
WITH ALL THESE CARGOS

WRITTEN IN BESIDE EACH

SPICES, COCONUTS, FURNITURE,

CAT LITTER, COTTON,

REALLY CRAZY THINGS
ONE BEHIND THE OTHER.

NOT ONLY
THAT, THERE ARE MORE

THAN A 100 CONTAINERS FILLED
WITH INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

AND POTENTIALLY
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS.

NEXT STEP THEN WAS
JUST TO LOOK IF ONE

OF THESE CARGOS COULD REACT
WITH SURROUNDING MATERIAL.

AFTER POURING
OVER THE LONG LIST,

DANA ZEROS IN ON A
PRIME SUSPECT: PVC.

THERE ARE 90 CONTAINERS FILLED

WITH PVC POWDER STOWED IN AND
ON TOP OF CARGO HOLD FOUR.

IT'S A COMMON MATERIAL
USED IN EVERYTHING

FROM CREDIT CARDS TO CLOTHING.

PVC IS DANGEROUS
IF IT IS HEATED,

BECAUSE IT CAN REACT
WITH SURROUNDING STEEL

TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN GAS

AND HYDROGEN GAS IS
AN EXPLOSIVE GAS.

HYDROGEN GAS CAN
PRODUCE WHITISH-GRAY SMOKE;

SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SHIP'S
CREW SAW AFTER THE ALARM.

SO, ALL THIS PVC, COULD
IT PRODUCE ENOUGH HYDROGEN GAS

TO CAUSE A MASSIVE EXPLOSION?

YES, BUT...

DANA THINKS SHE'S
IDENTIFIED WHAT EXPLODED,

BUT SHE'S CONVINCED THE
DANGER STARTED ELSEWHERE.

PVC HAS TO BE VERY HOT
TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN GAS.

PVC WILL NOT WARM UP ITSELF.

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING
ELSE WHICH WAS VERY HOT

TO HEAT UP THE PVC.

THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT WAS IT?

ABOARD THE SHIP,
TECHNICIANS SEARCH FOR CLUES

IN FLAMINIA'S SMOKE
DETECTION SYSTEM.

IT'S ALSO STILL INTACT.

THE SMOKE ALARM IS
IN FACT A SNIFFER.

IT TAKES AIR FROM EACH
OF THE CARGO HOLDS

AND OBSERVES WHETHER THERE
ARE PARTICLES IN THE AIR

AND WILL SET OFF AN ALARM.

WHATEVER
TRIGGERED THE ALARM

MAY HAVE LEFT RESIDUE
INSIDE THE SYSTEM'S TUBING.

IT COULD BE EXACTLY
WHAT INVESTIGATORS NEED

TO CRACK THE CASE.

WE HAVE SMOKE
IN CARGO HOLD FOUR!

EXPERTS THINK
SOMETHING IN A CARGO HOLD,

DEEP IN THE BELLY OF FLAMINIA,

HEATED 90 CONTAINERS OF PVC

AND MADE THEM HOT
ENOUGH TO EXPLODE.

TRACE PARTICLES OF
WHATEVER SET OFF THE PVC

MAY BE IN THE TUBING OF THE
SHIP'S SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM.

THEY WANTED TO FIND IF
SOMETHING WAS SUCKED OUT

OF THE CARGO HOLD
INTO THESE PIPES.

TECHNICIANS FIND TRACES

OF DIVINYLBENZENE, OR DVB.

IT'S A CHEMICAL USED IN
INDUSTRIAL ADHESIVES.

THIS IS AN INDICATOR
THAT DVB MOLECULES CAME OUT

OF THE CONTAINER AND
CAME UP ONTO THESE PIPES.

WITH THIS NEW LEAD,

DANA GOES BACK TO HER CHART.

THERE WERE
THREE CONTAINERS

WITH DVB IN THIS CARGO HOLDS.

DVB IS A VERY REACTIVE AND
VERY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE

WHICH CAN PRODUCE A LOT OF HEAT.

THREE CONTAINERS
OF THE REACTIVE CHEMICAL

ARE STOWED DEEP IN THE
MIDDLE OF CARGO HOLD FOUR

WITH PVC ON BOTH SIDES.

DVB IS SO DANGEROUS

THAT TO MAKE IT SAFE
FOR TRANSPORT IT'S MIXED

WITH A CHEMICAL STABILIZER

THAT STOPS IT FROM
REACTING AND HEATING UP.

THERE IS A
DISTINCT AMOUNT

OF STABILIZER IN THIS CARGO

WHICH UNDER NORMAL
CONDITIONS WORKS FOR 60 DAYS.

THAT'S PLENTY OF
TIME TO COMPLETE THE VOYAGE,

BUT JUST 13 DAYS AFTER
FLAMINIA LEFT NEW ORLEANS,

THE DVB HAD BEGUN ITS
CHEMICAL REACTION...

WE HAVE SMOKE IN
CARGO HOLD FOUR!

AND
TRIGGERED THE ALARM.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

THE SHIP EXPLODES HERE.

HARALD CALLS
ON DR. THOMAS HOEFER,

AN EXPERT IN MARITIME SAFETY.

CAN HE EXPLAIN WHY
THE DVB REACTED SOONER

THAN IT SHOULD HAVE?

THE STABILIZATION IS
DESTROYED OVER TIME.

SO THE QUESTION FOR THE
INVESTIGATION WAS TO FIND OUT

THE ORIGINAL STARTING POINT
OF THE CHEMICAL REACTION.

IF WE TRACE ITS ROUTE, THE
JOURNEY OF THESE CONTAINERS

REALLY STARTED HERE
IN BATON ROUGE.

FROM BATON ROUGE
THE DVB WAS PUT

INTO THE TANK CONTAINERS

AND THEN THEY TRANSPORTED
THAT TO NEW ORLEANS.

AS THEY TRACK THE
SHIPMENT OF THESE CHEMICALS,

THEY UNCOVER
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

NO ONE WAS REALLY
LOOKING AT THE TEMPERATURE

IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT
WAS THAT THE CHEMICAL

WAS EXPOSED TO A TEMPERATURE

OF MORE THAN THIRTY DEGREES
CELSIUS IN THE HARBOR.

AT NEARLY
NINETY DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

THE STABILIZER WHICH
STOPS DVB FROM HEATING UP

DEPLETES AT A FASTER RATE.

THESE CONTAINERS AND THEIR
VOLATILE CHEMICALS BAKED

IN THE HOT SUN FOR TEN DAYS.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO
KNOW HOW LONG THE CONTAINERS

HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE ROAD
BEFORE COMING ON THE SHIP.

HOW MUCH TIME WAS LEFT

OF THIS SHORTENED PERIOD
OF STABILIZER ACTING?

AT A TEMPERATURE OF 18 DEGREES,

THE STABILIZER WILL
LAST FOR 60 DAYS.

I WAS INTERESTED TO
KNOW THE TEMPERATURE

AND TO KNOW THE
DURATION OF TEMPERATURE

TO CALCULATE THIS ACTING
TIME OF THE STABILIZER.

BUT IF THE TEMPERATURE
RISES TO 27 DEGREES,

THE STABILIZER IS
REDUCED TO 30 DAYS.

SO THE WARMER IT GETS,

THE FASTER THE
STABILIZER RUNS OUT.

CORRECT.

IF THERE IS NO
MORE STABILIZER IN,

THEN THIS REACTION WILL GO
ON AND PRODUCE A LOT OF HEAT.

THE
HOT LOUISIANA SUN

COULD'VE CUT THE
STABILIZER'S TIME IN HALF,

BUT IT STILL SHOULD HAVE
LASTED THE ENTIRE VOYAGE.

INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR
ANY OTHER HEAT SOURCE

THAT COULD HAVE PUSHED
IT OVER THE EDGE.

WE START LOOKING
AT THE TEMPERATURE

SURROUNDING THE
THREE CONTAINERS.

THOMAS
DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR

BEFORE HE SPOTS MORE TROUBLE
INSIDE THE CARGO HOLD.

YOU SEE ALL
THESE CONTAINERS?

THEY'RE HEATED!

WE IDENTIFIED THAT THESE
CONTAINERS WERE PACKED

WITH CONTAINERS WHICH
WERE WARM AROUND THEM.

TEN
CONTAINERS OF A CHEMICAL

THAT'S HEATED TO A MOLTEN
STATE FOR TRANSPORT.

YOU HEAT IT UP, UP TO
80, 90 DEGREES CELSIUS.

AND THEY'RE NOT
JUST ANYWHERE IN THE HOLD;

THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT
NEXT TO THE DVB.

SO ALL THAT HEAT IS
GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE DVB.

EXACTLY.

INVESTIGATORS
HAVE JUST FOUND

THE TRIGGER TO A BOMB.

THE HEAT DESTROYS THE STABILIZER

AND THE DVB NOW BEGINS
A DEADLY CHAIN REACTION.

THE REACTION WOULD START
CREATING 200 TO 350 DEGREES.

THE PRESSURE IN
THE TANKS WOULD GO

AND THEN THE VERY HOT
WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT.

THE
CONTINUOUSLY BUILDING HEAT

TURNS THE ENTIRE HOLD INTO
A GIANT PRESSURE-COOKER,

POSSIBLY HOT ENOUGH TO
CAUSE THE NINETY CONTAINERS

OF PVC TO PRODUCE
EXPLOSIVE HYDROGEN GAS.

IT WAS VERY CLEAR
THAT WITH THE HEAT,

SOMETHING WILL EXPLODE.

IT'S THE
LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

THAT MAY EXPLAIN WHAT SET
OFF THE DEADLY EXPLOSION.

BUT INVESTIGATORS STILL

HAVE AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION TO ANSWER.

THE CREW RELEASED A LOT
OF CO2 GAS INTO THE HOLD.

WHY DIDN'T IT STOP
THE EXPLOSION?

LOOKING FOR
ANSWERS, SURVEYORS RETURN

TO FLAMINIA TO TEST THE
SHIP'S FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM.

DURING THEIR
WORK THEY FIND OUT

THAT THERE WAS A
FALSE CONNECTION

IN THE CO2 SYSTEM
OF THE CARGO HOLDS.

THEY
DISCOVER A PROBLEM

IN THE INSTALLATION
OF THE TUBING SYSTEM.

WHILE GAS WAS FLOODING
INTO CARGO HOLD FOUR.

CO2 RELEASED.

A BAD
CONNECTION TRIGGERED

A FALSE ALARM IN
THE ENGINE ROOM,

AND PREVENTED THE CREW
FROM RESTARTING THE ENGINE.

IT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS
OFF THE VENTILATION

TO THE ENGINE ROOM
WHICH KILLS THE BOILER.

THOSE TWO THINGS STOP THE MAIN
ENGINE FROM BEING RESTARTED.

WE'RE ABOUT TO
LOSE THE MAIN ENGINE.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

CREATED BY THE FALSE
SHUTDOWN WAS

THAT IT WAS ANOTHER
DISTRACTION AT A TIME

WHEN THERE WAS
TOO MUCH GOING ON.

EVEN
THOUGH FLAMINIA HAD BEEN

IN OPERATION FOR
MORE THAN TEN YEARS,

NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THE
FAULTY INSTALLATION.

THE FAILURE WAS
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION

OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM IN THE YARD.

THE INSTALLATION
PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS,

BUT IT DOESN'T
EXPLAIN THE DISASTER.

SURVEYORS CONFIRM THAT
FIRE FIGHTING CO2 GAS

WAS DELIVERED INTO
CARGO HOLD FOUR.

THE GAS IS SUPPOSED
TO SUFFOCATE A FIRE

BY DISPLACING THE
OXYGEN THAT FUELS IT.

SO WHY DIDN'T IT WORK?

IF THE FIRE IS SPREAD
OUTSIDE THE CONTAINER,

CO2 IS VERY EFFECTIVE.

ON FLAMINIA,
THE PROBLEM STARTED

INSIDE SEALED CONTAINERS.

IF YOU HAVE A FIRE
INSIDE A CONTAINER,

GETTING THE CO2 INTO THE
CONTAINER IS VERY DIFFICULT.

CARBON DIOXIDE, IT
WILL NOT GO INTO THE CONTAINERS.

THE WATER WILL NOT
GO INTO CONTAINERS.

NO EXTINGUISHING AGENT WILL
GO INTO THE CONTAINERS,

BECAUSE THEY ARE SEALED.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

IF THERE'S
A FIRE INSIDE A CONTAINER

THAT'S BURIED IN A SHIP'S HOLD,

THERE MAY BE NO WAY TO STOP IT.

CONNECT THE HOSES!

THE FIREFIGHTERS
WERE IN A DESPERATE BATTLE

THEY COULD NEVER HAVE WON.

THE CREW DID EXACTLY
WHAT THEY HAD TO DO

AND THE ONLY THING
YOU CAN DO AS A CREW,

BECAUSE THAT IS THE
FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM YOU HAVE.

FIREFIGHTING
SYSTEMS ARE NOT ENOUGH.

AND IT POINTS TO AN
EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM.

THE YEAR FLAMINIA BURNED,
THERE WERE ON AVERAGE,

MORE THAN ONE FIRE OR EXPLOSION

ON A CONTAINER SHIP PER WEEK.

WITH MORE THAN 5,000
CONTAINER SHIPS

MOVING AROUND THE
WORLD EVERY DAY,

THE LIVES OF MANY MORE
CREWS COULD BE IN DANGER.

UNTIL SOMEONE
FINDS A SOLUTION,

THERE WILL BE CONTAINER
FIRES AND PEOPLE WILL DIE.

IF THE DANGEROUS
CONTAINERS HAD BEEN UP

ON DECK, FIREFIGHTERS COULD
HAVE COOLED DOWN THE AREA

WITH WATER AND POSSIBLY
PREVENTED THE EXPLOSION.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE
THE CONTAINERS WERE.

THAT MEANS THIS CHEMICAL

SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN
STORED IN THE HOLD.

WHO TOLD TO
STOW IT THERE?

AND WAS IT GOOD
TO STOW IT THERE?

INVESTIGATORS DIG

THROUGH THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK

TO FIND OUT WHY A
DANGEROUS CHEMICAL LIKE DVB

WAS STORED DEEP IN
THE SHIP'S HOLD.

THE CHEMICAL COMPANY HAS
TO CLASSIFY THE HAZARDS

AND HAD TO DEFINE
STOWAGE CONDITION,

WHETHER IT'S ON
DECK OR UNDER DECK.

SO WE GOT PAPERS FROM THE
INDUSTRY ABOUT THE CARGOS.

THE PAPERWORK
INCLUDES THE MANUFACTURER'S

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
HANDLING THE DVB.

LISTEN TO THIS: DO NOT
STOW ABOVE HEAT SOURCES.

STOW ABOVE DECK FOR
TEMPERATURE MONITORING.

IT WAS NOT TO BE
EXPOSED TO HEAT

AND IT WAS TO BE LOADED

ON DECK SO ITS TEMPERATURE
COULD BE MONITORED.

THOSE ARE GRAVE INSTRUCTIONS,
BUT THE CREW NEVER SAW IT.

THE WARNINGS
ABOUT DVB WERE LISTED

ON TRACKING DOCUMENTS.

EVERYTHING IS
OKAY DOWN THERE?

YES, SIR, ALL GOOD.

THOSE
WARNINGS SEEMED NEVER

TO HAVE MADE IT TO THE SHIP.

DID MISSING PAPERWORK COST
THREE MEN THEIR LIVES?

IN THE CASE OF FLAMINIA,
THE DVB MANUFACTURER

SHOULD HAVE NEVER SHIPPED
SUCH A VOLATILE CHEMICAL

THROUGH NEW ORLEANS
IN THE SUMMER.

AND THE FREIGHT
FORWARDER SHOULDN'T

HAVE LET IT SIT
THERE FOR 10 DAYS.

THE COMPANY ASHORE
IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR THIS STOWING PROCESS
AND PREPARING THE PAPERS.

THE CREW, MOSTLY, DO
NOT KNOW WHAT KIND

OF GOODS ARE IN THE CONTAINERS.

A CIVIL COURT RULED

THAT NO ONE ON THE SHIP WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERRORS.

THE MANUFACTURER'S
RECOMMENDATIONS

WERE NEVER INCLUDED
IN THE STOW PLAN.

FOR REASONS THAT
ARE NOT CLEAR,

WHEN THE CAPTAIN LOOKED AT IT

AND THE CHIEF MATE LOOKED AT IT,

THEY HAD NO
INFORMATION WHATSOEVER

THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE
BEEN STOWED ON DECK.

WITH NO
MANUFACTURER'S WARNING,

THE DVB WAS STOWED ACCORDING
TO HOW IT WAS CLASSIFIED.

INTERNATIONAL RULES DIVIDE
DANGEROUS CARGO INTO CATEGORIES

WHICH INCLUDE, EXPLOSIVE,
FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND CORROSIVE.

BUT DVB HAD TWO DIFFERENT

ONE DESIGNATES IT AS
A DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE.

THE OTHER AS A MARINE
POLLUTANT, IT'S THIS DESIGNATION

THAT SEALED THE FATE
OF FLAMINIA'S CREW.

IT'S A MARINE POLLUTANT
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED

TO STOW THEM OUTSIDE.

AND THE SHIPPER DECIDED,
TOTALLY CORRECTLY,

HAVING THIS CARGO, PUT IT
IN THE CENTER OF THE HOLD.

THE
CREW HAD NO IDEA

THERE WAS A TICKING TIME
BOMB IN THE CARGO HOLD

AND A DANGEROUS CHEMICAL
REACTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

WE GOT SMOKE IN
CARGO HOLD FOUR.

BY THE TIME THEY
WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

CO2 RELEASED.

IT WAS
ALREADY TOO LATE.

WE NEED MORE HOSES!

THERE WAS NOTHING
THEY COULD DO TO STOP IT.

INVESTIGATORS
CONCLUDE THE EXPLOSION

WAS IN PART THE RESULT
OF A CLASSIFICATION

WHICH SENT THE DANGEROUS
CHEMICAL INTO THE HOLD.

WE FOUND OUT THAT
SOMETHING WAS WRONG HERE.

WE WOULD HAVE NOT HAVE
CLASSIFIED THIS THIS WAY.

THIS ERROR
AFFECTS CONTAINER SHIPS

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT ONLY TAKES ONE
MISLABELED BOX

THAT HAS SOMETHING

THAT WILL CATCH FIRE AND
SPREAD RAPIDLY OUTTA CONTROL

TO DESTROY A LARGE SHIP.

THOSE
RISKS ARE MULTIPLYING

AS CONTAINER SHIPS
GET BIGGER AND BIGGER.

IN HER DAY,
FLAMINIA WAS ONE

OF THE LARGER CONTAINER
SHIPS IN THE WORLD.

COMPARED TO A LOT
OF SHIPS THESE DAYS,

SHE'S NOT THAT LARGE ANYMORE.

TO KEEP UP WITH
INCREASING GLOBAL DEMAND,

SOME OF TODAY'S CONTAINER SHIPS

HAVE MORE THAN THREE TIMES
THE CAPACITY OF FLAMINIA.

BIG SOLUTIONS OFTEN
CREATE BIG PROBLEMS.

THE LARGER THE CONTAINER
SHIP, THE MORE CHANCE

THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A
CONTAINER WITH A PROBLEM,

BECAUSE THEY JUST
HAVE MORE BOXES.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE PRICE

ARE THE SEAMEN WHO
LOSE THEIR LIVES

AND THE SHIP OWNERS
WHO LOSE THEIR SHIPS.

WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THE CASE GOES
TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME

ORGANIZATION TO CHANGE HOW DVB
IS CLASSIFIED FOR TRANSPORT.

BECAUSE OF THE
ACCIDENT OF FLAMINIA,

DVB WAS PUT INTO
ANOTHER HAZARD CLASS.

YOU HAVE TO STOW IT
WHERE THE CREW CAN REACH IT,

MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE,
BECAUSE IT'S SO DANGEROUS.

UNDER THE NEW
RULES, DVB IS NOW LABELED

IN THE SAME CATEGORY
AS SOME FORMS OF TNT.

WITH MILLIONS OF
CONTAINERS MOVING

ACROSS THE OCEANS EVERY DAY,

THE NEW RULES ARE IMPORTANT
TO SAVE SAILORS' LIVES.

BUT THERE'S STILL
MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

THE MAGIC OF CONTAINERIZATION

IS THE NIGHTMARE OF CONTAINERIZATION.

THE WORLD HAS SO MANY
DANGEROUS CHEMICALS

THAT NEED TO BE MOVED AROUND
AND IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT

TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY CONTAINER

IS PROPERLY LABELED
AND PROPERLY HANDLED.

THE EXPLOSION
ON FLAMINIA CLAIMED THE LIVES

OF THREE CREW MEMBERS,
INCLUDING THE FIRST OFFICER.

FIRST OFFICER HAS
THE JOB OF MAKING SURE

THAT EVERYONE SURVIVES
AND HE DID THAT.

HE DID A GREAT JOB, BUT
IT COST HIM HIS LIFE.

DUE TO HIS
INJURIES, ARNOLD NISPEROS

WOULD NEVER WORK
ON A SHIP AGAIN.

HE'S HAUNTED BY THE
LOSS OF HIS FELLOW CREW.

I REMEMBER EVERY JULY
WHAT HAPPENED FOR US.

LIFE IS VERY SHORT.

IT'S LIKE A MAGIC
AND THEN ALL FINISH.

WHERE'S PARCON?

FOR MY LOST CREW MATES,
I HOPE THEY ARE IN PEACE.

THEIR FRIEND,
RAMON PARCON, WAS NEVER FOUND.

MY MOM AND I
FLEW TO GERMANY

TO SEE THE FLAMINIA
ON OUR OWN EYES.

HIS FAMILY
PAYS THEIR RESPECTS

AT HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE.

WE CRIED WHEN WE
REACHED FLAMINIA.

THE CONTAINERS WERE MELTED.

IT WAS BURNED.

WE'RE JUST THINKING
THAT MY DAD WAS THERE.

I WAS HOPING THAT
HE GROW OLD WITH US,

WE COULD SPEND
TIME MORE TOGETHER,

BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE.