The MS Scandinavian Star Fire: A Tragic Mystery at Sea

Summary

The video recounts the tragic story of the MS Scandinavian Star, a ship with a dark history marked by a deadly fire on April 7, 1990, which claimed 159 lives. Originally built in 1971, the ship had a history of multiple fires and poor safety measures. Despite the devastation, the vessel was repaired, renamed, and put back into service until its scrapping in 2004. A 2020 documentary challenged the official investigation, suggesting potential insurance fraud and deliberate sabotage. Survivors and victims' families continue to seek justice, with ongoing legal action. The story serves as a stark reminder of maritime safety failures.

Takeaways

• 😀 The MS Scandinavian Star, originally built as the MS Masalia in 1971, had a controversial and tragic history.
• 😀 The ship had multiple fire incidents during its service, with significant fires in 1985 and 1988.
• 😀 In 1990, a devastating fire on the Scandinavian Star killed 159 people and raised numerous safety concerns.
• 😀 The official investigation pointed to a convicted arsonist as the cause of the fire, but suspicions about a deliberate act of sabotage persist.
• 😀 The fire revealed major flaws in the ship's fire safety measures, including inadequate crew training, malfunctioning fire doors, and poor evacuation procedures.
• 😀 Despite the tragic event, the ship was repaired and later renamed, continuing its service.
• 😀 New investigations into the fire were reopened in 2014, and a documentary in 2020 sparked renewed public interest and controversy around the cause of the fire.
• 😀 A theory emerged that the fire may have been part of an insurance fraud scheme involving the ship's owners.
• 😀 Victims' families and survivors continue to demand justice, accusing the authorities of covering up the full truth about the fire.
• 😀 The Danish government is currently facing a lawsuit for negligence in not properly conducting safety inspections prior to the fire.

Q & A

What happened on the night of April 7, 1990, aboard the MS Scandinavian Star?

A devastating fire broke out on the MS Scandinavian Star, causing the deaths of 159 people. The fire spread rapidly across multiple decks, and many passengers were trapped due to poor evacuation procedures and a lack of proper fire safety measures.

Who was initially blamed for the fire on the MS Scandinavian Star?

The official investigation initially blamed Eric Murk Anderson, a convicted arsonist who perished in the blaze. However, subsequent investigations suggested that the fire was caused by multiple separate fires, pointing to possible deliberate actions by crew members or others with knowledge of the ship's layout.

What were some of the ship's fire safety deficiencies that contributed to the tragedy?

The ship had numerous fire safety deficiencies, including defective fire doors that failed to close automatically, poorly trained crew members, inadequate emergency protocols, and highly flammable materials like melamine resin laminate that fueled the fire. Additionally, some crew members did not speak the necessary languages to communicate effectively during the emergency.

How did the fire spread on the MS Scandinavian Star?

The fire spread quickly from deck 3 to deck 5, exacerbated by the ship's stairwells and ceilings, which acted as chimneys. Inadequate fire doors and improperly secured ventilation systems allowed the flames to spread rapidly, while the burning of melamine panels released toxic gases like hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide.

What did the investigation reveal about the crew's ability to handle the emergency?

The investigation revealed that the crew's inadequate training and language barriers significantly hindered their ability to respond effectively to the fire. Many crew members had only 10 days of training instead of the standard 6-8 weeks, and a significant number of crew members were unfamiliar with the ship's layout.

What were the main reasons that many passengers could not escape the fire?

Many passengers were unable to escape because they likely did not hear the alarms due to the noise from the ship's mechanical systems, they were disoriented by thick smoke, or they were overcome by toxic gases. Poorly designed hallways and blocked fire doors also complicated their efforts to reach emergency exits.

What did the 2013 report suggest about the cause of the fire?

The 2013 report argued that the fire was deliberately set by multiple people, not by a single arsonist. It suggested that crew members, possibly for insurance fraud motives, were responsible for starting the fires and sabotaging the ship’s firefighting systems.

What was the controversial claim regarding the insurance policy of the MS Scandinavian Star?

A controversial claim suggested that the ship was sold for $10 million but then insured for $24 million just before the fire. This discrepancy raised suspicions of insurance fraud, although no thorough investigation was conducted at the time.

What actions were taken by the authorities after the fire was extinguished?

After the fire was extinguished, investigations continued for years. In 2014, the investigation was reopened, and in 2016, it was suggested that the fire had been deliberately set by crew members. In 2020, a documentary aired questioning the official investigation, leading to a government hearing in Denmark to revisit the case.

How did the fire on the MS Scandinavian Star impact maritime safety regulations?

The fire led to significant changes in maritime safety. In 1992, the International Maritime Organization revised the International Code for Fire Safety Systems, under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, to improve fire safety standards on passenger ships.