NTSB TO RELEASE FACTUAL REPORTS ON NORWAY CRUISE SHIP BOILER EXPLOSION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA

On May 25, 2003, the Bahamian-flag passenger ship NORWAY was moored in Port of Miami in Miami, Florida, with 911 crewmembers and 2,135 passengers waiting to disembark. About 6:37 a.m., a boiler exploded, releasing about 20 tons of water, which rapidly expanded into saturated steam. The expanding water vapor breached the crew living areas on two decks, displacing bulkheads and blowing doors and their frames out. As a result of this accident, 8 crewmembers died and another 17 crewmembers sustained serious and minor injuries.

The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide any analysis. It will include investigative group factual reports, photos, interview transcripts, and other documents from the investigation. Additional material will be added to the docket as it becomes available. Analysis of the accident, along with conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come at a later date when the final report on the investigation is completed.

For news media representatives, a CD-ROM containing the docket material will be available from the Office of Public Affairs, NTSB Headquarters (6th floor), 490 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. beginning at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 29, 2005. Docket material also can be obtained from the NTSB's Public Inquiries Branch by calling (202) 314-6551, or from General Microfilm, Inc., (304) 267-5830.

This will be a document release only; no interviews will be conducted.

NTSB Media Contact: Keith Holloway, (202) 314-6100
hollowk@ntsb.gov