A upkeep error induced an engine room fireplace aboard the Endo Breeze final yr, leading to $1.2 million in damages, a Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) evaluation has proven.
On April 29, 2022, the Endo Breeze was transiting outbound by the Raritan Bay West Attain channel close to Staten Island, New York, when oil spray from a gasoline injector pump on the starboard most important engine ignited off close by sizzling surfaces, inflicting a fireplace. The crew of the Endo Breeze contained the unfold of the fireplace by eradicating gasoline and oxygen sources, and activating the vessel’s fastened fireplace extinguishing system.
To find out the reason for the oil spray, investigators examined the engine’s no. 1 cylinder gasoline injector pump and found a slight offset on the banjo tube meeting. Investigators decided it’s seemingly that the engineer didn’t appropriately comply with the producer’s process for gasoline injector pump reassembly when performing upkeep a day earlier than the fireplace.
The NTSB has investigated a number of current casualties involving mechanical or gasoline line becoming failures that led to engine fires following upkeep of shipboard diesel engines. The Endo Breeze’s engine room fireplace exhibits what can occur when gear producers’ really useful upkeep procedures are usually not adopted.
“On this case, not following the tightening sequence described within the diesel engine producer’s handbook led to the misalignment and failure of a high-pressure gasoline connection on an engine’s gasoline injector pump’s meeting,” the report stated. “As a result of excessive danger of fireplace related to pressurized gasoline, when working with diesel engine elements, it’s important to rigorously comply with producer meeting procedures and evaluate producer manuals and steering regularly to make sure familiarity with right upkeep procedures.”
The NTSB report additionally emphasised the necessity for coaching to forestall and comprise engine room fires.
“To stop engine room fires and guarantee they’re successfully contained, operators ought to present mariners reasonable scenario-based coaching, together with coaching that covers engine room emergencies,” the report stated. “This coaching must also cowl procedures for successfully shutting down equipment, gasoline oil, lube oil, and air flow methods, in addition to boundary monitoring.”
