Canada – engine room fire due to frothover
The Canadian Transport Safety Board (TSB) issued the report of its investigation of an engine room fire onboard the container ship MOL Prestige off British Columbia on 31 January 2018.
The investigation determined that the fire was due to maintenance-related issues in the engine room of the MOL Prestige.
The transferring of cold fuel oil into a high temperature settling tank caused the water in it to boil under the surface of fuel oil, creating an overflow known as frothover.
This led to the release of oil and fumes out of an opening at the top of the tank where a level indicator had been previously fitted, resulting in the fire.
Additionally, the investigation found that equipment in the engine room was not maintained as required by both company procedures and manufacturer’s specification – a responsibility shared by vessel management and crew.
(7/29/20) [https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2018/m18p0014/m18p0014.pdf].
Canada – engine room fire due to frothover
The Canadian Transport Safety Board (TSB) issued the report of its investigation of an engine room fire onboard the container ship MOL Prestige off British Columbia on 31 January 2018.
The investigation determined that the fire was due to maintenance-related issues in the engine room of the MOL Prestige.
The transferring of cold fuel oil into a high temperature settling tank caused the water in it to boil under the surface of fuel oil, creating an overflow known as frothover.
This led to the release of oil and fumes out of an opening at the top of the tank where a level indicator had been previously fitted, resulting in the fire.
Additionally, the investigation found that equipment in the engine room was not maintained as required by both company procedures and manufacturer’s specification – a responsibility shared by vessel management and crew.
(7/29/20) [https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2018/m18p0014/m18p0014.pdf].
