Page 30 - 2023 - Q4 - Minerva in Focus

STAY SAFE

Combating Engine

Room Fires

Understanding Causes, Contributors,
and Preventive Measures

The rise in engine room fires cannot be • Insulating hot surfaces with non-ab-
seen separately from the increasing in- sorbing insulation and covering them
stances of dirty engine rooms, missing in- with sheet metal plating, using the “roof
sulation, and screening of oil piping being tile” overlap method. This will divert po-
In recent years, there has been a con- reported by class surveyors. This is also tential leakages to a safe drain location.
cerning surge in engine room fires reflected in the rising number of PSC de- • Regular inspections using an (in-
aboard container ships, with statistics tentions linked to these issues. frared) thermometer or thermal
revealing a sharp increase between imaging equipment to identify areas
2019 and 2021. Disturbingly, this trend In response to the increasing number of of lacking or insufficient insulation,
appears persistent, as preliminary data engine room fires, the Paris and Tokyo especially after repairs or overhauls.
for 2022 to 2023 indicate that the num- MoUs launched a Concentrated Inspec- • Properly screen connections in oil
ber of engine room fires remains at the tion Campaign (CIC) on fire safety, on piping, and restore the screening
same elevated level. This news high- September 1, 2023. This CIC focuses on the after repairs and maintenance.
lights some common causes and con- means to controlling and extinguishing • Be careful when installing and locating
tributors to engine room fires. fires through fire dampers, fire doors, and flexible hoses, to extend their lifespan.
firefighting systems.
2. Electrical Fires
However, to prevent is better than to cure, Electrical fires often originate in main or
making it imperative to highlight the com- distribution switchboard and electrical
mon causes and contributors to engine motors or generators. Although sometimes
room fires. caused by a component failure, the more
common reasons are dirt leading to over-
Most fires are caused by one of three heating or short-circuit, or a loose connec-
situations: tion leading to arcing.
1. Flammable oil leaking onto a hot Therefore:
surface
Though preventing oil leakages onto hot • Perform regular checks of terminal
surfaces entirely is nearly impossible, and breakerconnections as part of the
proper implementation of the mitigating planned maintenance and make sure to
actions required by SOLAS and class rules tighten to the specified torque.
An article will immensely reduce the risk of an oil • Regularly clean switchboards and elec-
by DNV leakage causing a fire. These actions entail: trical machines.

30 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 26 / Q4 2023