Fire in engine room and subsequent collision with structure on transport barge

What happened?

During the tow of a structure to location, a fire occurred in the engine room of the tow tug. This led to a blackout resulting in a collision with the structure on the transport barge.

The crew’s interpretation of a project specific requirement led to a pressure test being conducted on the fuel oil system. During this test fuel oil started spraying out of a gasket in the engine room. The fuel oil spray was eventually ignited by the heat of the engines. The fire in the engine room caused a short circuit which was followed by a blackout. With the failing of the power supply, the tow tug started drifting. The transport barge drifted past the tow tug; however, the structure, which protruded outside the stern of the transport barge, struck the tow tug.

What were the causes? What went wrong?

Contributing factors include:

• The emergency generator failed to start, resulting in a black out;
• The fire extinguisher system did not activate (the fire was extinguished with a combination of the sprinkler system and the residue fuel oil burning out);
• Crew were not familiar with characteristics of fire-fighting systems on-board;
• Unreliable gasket material used in the FO system;
• The engine emergency stop button in the engine control room could not be accessed by the crew as too much smoke had escaped from the engine room;
• The permit to work (PTW) failed to address or communicate the specific situation related risks;
• There was reliance on third-parties’ expertise during design, build, commissioning and operations.

What actions were taken?

• Any non-standard activity should be subject to control of work procedures;
• Offshore and onshore organization need to communicate proactively when non-standard activities are considered/required;
• There should be thorough familiarization of emergency and fire-fighting systems on-board – this is a must. Not only how they are operated, but also specific characteristics of the system and the effectiveness of the medium used;
• Ensure that the PTW is also used as an effective communication tool.

Members may wish to refer to:

• IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1321 Guidelines For Measures To Prevent Fires In Engine-Rooms And Cargo Pump-Rooms