The Bonhomme Richard, (short article)

[Cat Brules]

A tough review!!

 

USS Bonhomme Richard Burns, Likely A Victim Of Lax Fire Safety Practices

Craig HooperSenior Contributor

Aerospace & Defense

 

A massive fire, likely caused by lax fire safety practices during pier-side maintenance, ravaged the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on Sunday, one of America’s 10 big-deck amphibious assault ships. These vessels are intended to be an integral part in holding the line against a resurgent China, and the loss of this multibillion-dollar ship—which appears likely—will be felt throughout the fleet.

 

Shipyard Fires Are Entirely Preventable:

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, we already know that shipyard fires are a serious problem for the U.S. Navy right now. Multiple fires have broken out in U.S. Navy ships undergoing maintenance over the past several months, and, rather than make changes, the U.S. Navy seems to have chosen to ignore the problem, happier to gloat and point fingers as shipyard fires nearly sank Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov in 2019 and one of China’s new Type 075 big-deck amphibious assault ships earlier this year. The U.S. Navy’s failure to act—even after several warnings and close calls—is inexplicable and inexcusable.

Barring very unusual circumstances, the shipyard fire that is currently consuming the USS Bonhomme Richard is likely to have been completely and entirely avoidable.

Pier-side fires are rare when maintainers follow basic fire prevention practices.

[Pat Riot]

It has a lot to do with the Command on a vessel but more to do with the practices of shipyard workers.  
 

If Command does not enforce setting up fire watches and personnel to oversee the shipyard workers accidents and fires WILL happen. Shipyard workers and their management have been notoriously lax in their work practices for decades. Typically the shipyard workers are contract employees and not controlled by the Navy. The Navy may own the shipyard but the shipyard workers are not Navy and will cut corners...including safety corners. 
 

The Command of that ship needs to be removed and mid-level officers as well as high level enlisted need to be held accountable as well.