201347 Incinerator fire due to dirty solenoid valve

While at sea a fire occurred on the waste oil incinerator. The local fire alarm for the incinerator area was activated and the appropriate fire extinguishing mist system for the incinerator was triggered. Ship’s staff immediately closed-up to the incinerator but found that fire was already extinguished with only slight smoke remaining. The incinerator had been in use even though one of the two fuel line solenoid valves had been damaged and was awaiting spare parts. The fire damage included electric cables, burner protector, door switch and fuel solenoid valves.

 

 

The company’s incident investigation found that:
- The crew did not follow procedures to clean the burner before use. Uncleaned carbon deposits and the eventual failure of the second solenoid valve led to the fire.

- A non-routine risk assessment was not conducted when the first solenoid valve failed, hence no additional controls were placed on the use of the incinerator for operation with only one solenoid valve.

- New solenoid valves were ordered on an urgent basis but had not arrived onboard due to vessel’s operating pattern. The ship’s staff felt that they were obliged to use the incinerator due to the lack of available shore facilities. This concern was not shared with the shore management in order that alternative arrangements for the removal or disposal of accumulated materials could be made.

- There is no generic risk assessment for incinerator operations and the incinerator operating procedures need updating.
 

Company recommendations:
- A company wide generic risk assessment for the normal operation of the incinerator to be established.

- Vessels to create a comprehensive risk assessment with additional controls when using defective equipment which must be approved by the company.

- Urgent spares to be supplied as soon as practically possible as detailed in the company SMS. Vessels to follow up with office for their delivery.

- Incinerator operating procedures to be updated.

- Vessels to notify the company of their requirements for shore discharge of waste oil when incinerator is defective and cannot be used.

- The critical incinerator parts to be identified on all company’s vessels and one set to be kept on board as spare.