OUTBOARD ENGINE FIRE CAUSES YACHT TO SINK
Now, a Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report is recommending that racing yacht owners should ensure their auxiliary engines provide the necessary power for their craft to make a safe passage. In addition, the MCIB says risks associated with refuelling outboards at sea need to be highlighted.
The Beneteau First Class 8 (FC8) yacht, Black Magic, was motor sailing using a 3hp outboard and mainsail, on route from Crosshaven, Co Cork to Kinsale Harbour for winter lay-up in December 2021. The owner and skipper of the yacht the sole person onboard for the approximately 19-mile passage.
The report states that around 15 minutes after refuelling the outboard, the skipper saw flames coming from the outboard.
The fire rapidly spread to spare drums of petrol that were in the cockpit. The skipper, who was afraid he would be trapped if he went into the cabin if the petrol tanks exploded, went up to the bow area and made a MAYDAY distress call. He was picked up by a fishing vessel, and the yacht, which was destroyed by the fire, sank.
The MCIB report states that the yacht had been bought by her new owner six months previously and had been raced in Cork Harbour. The report concludes that the engine had not been serviced recently and was likely to have suffered a significant mechanical failure.
In addition, while achieving the speed necessary to deliver the yacht to its appointed destination on time, the engine was operating at the upper limits of its mechanical and power operating envelope and its sub-optimal capacity was a contributory factor to the loss of the yacht, together with spilled fuel from the refuelling operation.
The report states that 10hp is the recommended minimum horsepower for a yacht of Black Magic’s size. Risks associated with dirty engine room bilges
The Shipowners Club would like to highlight the potential hazards associated with oily engine room bilges and the checks and steps that a ship’s crew should undertake to assist mitigate the associated possible issues. It is common for bilge water to accumulate during the routine operation of machinery in the engine room spaces. However, engine room bilges contaminated with oil can pose hazards if not managed properly and could indicate a wider problem on board.
Bilge water can accumulate due to air condensation in the machinery space, condensation from air systems (such as air conditioning equipment, air compressors, compressed air vessels etc.), and the routine cleaning of the surrounding and connected areas. However, if the machinery, associated pipelines, and valves are not well- maintained, the associated leakage may seep into and contaminate the bilges.
A bilge filling up with oil or water could also be a tell-tale sign of a more significant problem, such as a leaking propeller shaft, stern seal, or cracks in the hull or tank bulkheads.
Associated Risks
– Fire – While an oily bilge may not be the immediate source of a fire, any fire that arises in an engine room or machinery space can escalate and spread rapidly. The presence of oil accumulated in bilges or drip trays acts as additional fuel to sustain burning and increases the likelihood of the fire reaching other areas. Rags that may be used to clean oily bilges if not disposed properly may further increase this risk.
– Pollution – Bilge water can be contaminated from various sources, such as oil leakage from machinery, sediments or cleaning agents used for machinery space cleaning. Contaminated bilge water, if not appropriately managed, can pose a pollution risk if the international/ local requirements on the discharge of bilge water are not complied with.
The Report • June 2023 • Issue 104 | 35
Safety Briefings
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