MAIB: Engine room fire flashover

• The master and crew took the appropriate actions in this situation. The closing down of the engine compartment and timely use of the fixed firefighting system stopped the fire from spreading further and reduced the flames. Hotspot monitoring of the compartment by the crew ensured that they were prepared to react to any change to the situation. The engine compartment needed to remain sealed until the deckheads achieved an ambient external temperature. The master also made the appropriate calls to the local authorities, ensuring that assistance would be on hand when the ferry arrived alongside.
• Poor communication: The local fire and rescue service inadvertently reignited the fire by opening the access hatch. This was inappropriate as the situation was under control and the correct action would have been to leave the compartment sealed until the deckhead temperature had fallen to ambient level. The master remains responsible for the vessel and communication is vital to build a clear picture of the situation. The fire officer’s actions were well meaning; however, the outcome was avoidable damage to the vessel.

IMCA can draw on no similar instances of an actual vessel fire being made worse by lack of communication or lack of co-operation between the vessel crew and the local fire brigade.  However, the main issue is here is that a situation was made much worse by that lack of communication. This is in no way unique and is to be guarded against.

Work hard to maintain clear and open communications, whether between vessel crew and project crew, vessel crew and management, deck and bridge, rigging crew and crane operator, client and contractor, contractor and sub-contractor, to name but a few.