200614 Engine room fire

14 Jan 2006 MARS

 

A fire broke out in the engine room as a result of the adoption of incorrect 'hot work' procedures. The vessel was alongside in port and loading cargo when the accident happened.

The incident occurred while repairing a drain tray in the sewage plant. The plant was located on the deck above the engine room workshop. As a temporary measure, the fitter was assigned to cover the hole by building up with welding. Although an oiler was assigned to keep a fire watch in the workshop below, he went to assist an engineer with deballasting operations on the bottom platform. Meanwhile the tiny hole got larger as the fitter tried to weld it. Sparks from the welding fell through this hole on to electrical cables and rubber hose stored in the workshop below the deck. These caught fire and thick smoke quickly filled the engine room, collecting so rapidly that the staff working in the engine room did not get the opportunity to fight the fire with portable extinguishers.

The engine room having become inaccessible, the chief engineer and master decided to release CO2. The procedure for operating the CO2 fixed fire-extinguishing system was properly carried out; as a result the fire was successfully put out without extensive damage in the engine room.

Lessons learnt
  • The hot work permit signed by the chief engineer and second engineer before starting the job was not valid as the flammable material in the workshop right below the welding area was not inspected and removed first.
  • The person assigned to keep fire watch should not attend to any other duties during the period of hot work.
  • A small door provided on the top of the funnel was inadvertently left open. Normally this door is not fitted with remote closing arrangements as it is meant to be kept shut. Please ensure that where such a door is fitted, it is bolted and kept closed at all times. A notice to this effect may be placed at the topmost platform in the engine room. Loss of engineroom air pressure during normal main engine running may result if the door is left open and CO2 will be less effective as an extinguishing medium.
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