Loss Prevention Advice
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The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has issued an investigation report regarding an incident of an explosion of a hydraulic windlass motor on board an RMI-flagged vessel.
The incident
On 28 September 2023 at 0435, the hydraulic anchor windlass motor on board a bulk carrier catastrophically failed when the anchor chain was running out unintentionally. The windlass clutch was engaged, but the winch drive was not operated. The windlass brake was closed. The burst motor resulted in flying debris which struck and fatally wounded the Bosun who was standing nearby.
The maritime safety investigation revealed that the movement of the ship in the existing sea conditions imposed dynamic loads on the anchor windlass and ground tackle that exceeded the combined brake capacity of the anchor windlass. This led to the parking brake slipping, followed by the rendering of the anchor chain, and resulted in the overspeed of the planetary gear and consequently a catastrophic failure of the hydraulic motor.
The windlass motor was not covered with a protection plate. The Bosun, who was standing in close proximity to the hydraulic windlass motor, was struck on his right leg by flying debris, resulting in an open fracture with arterial bleeding. External medical aid could not be administered before the Bosun was declared deceased.
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An incident where a cargo vessel, operating a routine transit of Lake Erie with a cargo of crushed stone, suffered a severe engine room fire.
Background of ship and voyage details
The ship was originally built in 1943, as a steamship and later converted to diesel propulsion. Due to the date of build, many safety features that are now mandatory were not required and therefore not fitted. For example, the main engine could not be stopped from the ship’s bridge, requiring stoppage locally or by closing fuel supply valves.
Similarly, the main engine pressurized fuel supply lines were not fitted with spray shielding in case of containment failure. Small fuel leaks on the main engine fuel supply and return lines were considered common. Due to the busy routine of the crew, temporary fixing of leaks had become the norm, with no deeper investigation of the cause.
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The majority of fires onboard ships start in the engine room and the frequency of such fires is on the rise. Although the main cause of these fires may not be identical, there are certain similarities in the underlying patterns of the fires.
Introduction
Every year fires on board ships lead to loss of lives and severe damage to the ships themselves. Most fires on board ships originate in the engine room where the three ingredients for a fire, namely fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition, exist in abundance. These do not only start the fire but also feed and intensify it further. Fire safety is not only about detecting and fighting a fire, but also about preventing it from igniting in the first place.
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Search and rescue operations are underway after a fishing vessel disappeared from the radar off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
The search for the fishing vessel that disappeared on 18 February east of Cape Maslen Nos with three people on board resumed with intensified efforts. According to local news reports, in addition to the official rescue teams, eight volunteer groups have joined the operation, combing the coastline between Sozopol and Primorsko.
A drone is also being deployed to survey areas that are difficult to access on foot. The vessel had set out the previous day despite severe weather conditions, when the vessel’s signal suddenly disappeared from radar.
Authorities launched a large-scale search involving rescue services, the Border Police and the military, however the operation was suspended in the evening due to darkness.
Experienced mariners have described the circumstances surrounding the disappearance as deeply concerning. A sailor noted in a television interview that there is a two- to three-minute discrepancy between data from the AIS tracking system and coastal radar.
He further commented that such an abrupt loss of signal is highly unusual, but expressed hope that, if an accident occurred, the crew may have had enough time to deploy a life raft.
The sailor added that strong winds could have carried the crew far offshore and urged authorities to conduct an aerial search and called on the Maritime Administration to also issue a missing persons alert as soon as possible.