PORT PARTNERSHIPS IN TAMPA BAY1

Abstract

ABSTRACT In August 1993, Tampa Bay, Florida was the scene of a devastating collision between a freighter and two barges. All three vessels came together in a moment of panic that left Tampa Bay looking like a war zone of burning and sinking wrecks. Parts of Tampa Bay were strewn with heavy fuel oil after the August 10 accident between the 345-foot Philippine-flagged freighter Balsa 37, which had been headed out of Tampa Bay, and two tug/barge units, Seafarer/Ocean 255 and Fred Bouchard B. No 155. This collision resulted in an explosion that burned out of control until the Tampa Fire Department extinguished it later that evening. Since the time of this collision, there have been major improvements made in firefighting response capabilities in the Tampa Bay area. The multi-level response community has been exercised extensively, including an exercise involving the evacuation of a cruise ship. Another exercise noted improvements to the response resources and capabilities in a field training exercise where the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO) Tampa, Tampa Fire Department, Tampa Port Authority, and Hvide Marine Towing deployed equipment to the scene of a simulated shipboard fire. The Tampa Port Authority supplied a 210-foot roll on-roll off (ro-ro) barge with a 78-foot beam capable of loading 73,230 pounds (32.1 long tons). The barge provided easy mobilization for the Tampa Fire Department to load four engine companies, a foam trailer, one Emergency Medical Service (EMS) vehicle, and all had sufficient room to work. Hvide Marine Towing provided a tug to deploy the ro-ro barge in a stern tow. This exercise demonstrated the joint cooperation and partnership between federal, state, city, and private industry to work together and improve the marine firefighting response posture in Tampa Bay. With every level of government under budget constraints, it is important to look for multi-purpose equipment and resources that will get the job done. Tampa Port Authority's ro-ro barge has presented itself as a unique firefighting resource that can be used as a platform to carry the fire engines from the city or county. The barge can reach any part of the port quickly and can handle a vessel or waterfront situation, thus improving the marine firefighting response posture in the port.