Lessons from the Grande Costa D’Avorio Fire: A Panel Review of the NTSB Report

In this special panel episode, we unpack the National Transportation Safety Board’s findings on the 2023 fire aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio at Port Newark—a devastating incident that claimed the lives of two Newark firefighters and exposed critical gaps in shipboard fire response readiness.

Joining the discussion are experts from across the maritime and emergency response communities:

• Mark Curtis, Fairwater

• Captain Noah Katka, Seattle Fire Department

• Lieutenant Aaron Patterson, Seattle Fire Department

• Jim Elliott, T&T Group of Companies

• Todd Duke, Resolve Marine

• Bill Burket, Virginia Port Authority

Together, they examine what went wrong, why coordination between ship and shore-based resources is still a national weak point, and what must change to prevent future tragedies. Topics include training, communications, fire suppression system limitations, and institutional readiness across ports nationwide.

This is a must-listen for anyone involved in port security, emergency management, or marine operations.