SAFE T Y
Briefings
New solution aims to address harmful mould infestations on vessels The potential dangers of mould found on ships and boats is not fully
understood by some marine surveyors It can be extremely harmful and is a serios health hazard. VIKAND has developed a solution to address the growing concern of mould infestations on vessels.
Mould, particularly the black variety, poses a serious health risk in the damp, humid environments. It can lead to respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and long-term health complications. Mould often grows in hidden spaces such as air ducts, plumbing systems, and behind walls, making it difficult to detect until it becomes a larger issue.
If left unaddressed, mould infestations can undermine both the health of passengers and crew and the operational safety of the vessel. Timely intervention is key to mitigating these risks.
Report into fire on board ro-ro ferry
At 2115 on 11 February 2023, a fire broke out in the engine room of the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry Stena Europe while on passage from Rosslare, Ireland, to Fishguard, Wales.
The fire on board ro-ro ferry caused significant damage to the engine room but nobody was injured and there was no damage to the environment. The fire was extinguished by the crew.
Safety issues
• The fire ignited on a main engine when pressurised fuel from a loose fuel pipe connection sprayed onto a high temperature exhaust pipe. Neither of the designed protections against fuel fires (spray shielding on fuel pipes and insulation of hot surfaces) were effective.
• The original fuel pipe connections had previously been identified as a system weakness, but the manufacturer’s recommended modifications had not been fitted to the engine.
• The ship’s crew were insufficiently trained to inspect engine fuel systems.
• The temperature measuring equipment used by the crew to monitor the engine exhaust insulation did not effectively identify any hot spots.
Recommendations
A recommendation (2024/170) has been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to submit a paper to the IMO proposing the introduction of a requirement for the use of thermographic equipment to identify exposed high temperature surfaces. Recommendations (2024/171 to 2024/174) have also been made to Stena Line Ltd to: review the existing defect reporting system; provide training to improve equipment inspections; promulgate details of this accident to the ships in its fleet; and introduce the use of thermal imaging cameras for the identification of exposed high temperature surfaces.
Read the report at
https://bit.ly/3ChDBdS. 24 | ISSUE 111 | MAR 2025 | THE REPORT
The air purification technology works by generating hydroxyls, natural molecules that neutralize mould spores, bacteria, viruses, and other airborne contaminants. The system provides continuous purification of both air and surfaces, offering a long-term solution to mould growth.
In practice, it has been shown to eliminate up to 99.9999% of viruses, bacteria, and mould, with significant reductions in mould levels within minutes, VIKAND claims.
"It is crucial to address mould growth promptly to prevent health issues. This includes maintaining low indoor humidity levels, fixing leaks, and ensuring proper ventilation. Overall, while mould is a common environmental issue, its potential health impacts should not be underestimated," stated Mattias Hallberg, Director, Technical Solutions.
Website:
https://vikand.com
Cashew nutshell marine biofuel warning sent out
Several ships in Singapore and Rotterdam have reported issues after using cashew nutshell marine biofuel. Reported operational problems included fuel sludging, injector failure, filter clogging, system deposits and corrosion of turbocharger nozzle rings. CTI-Maritec carried out extended gas chromatography mass spectrometry testing for very low sulphur fuel oil samples from the vessels. The results showed the fuel was blended with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) from undeclared source materials or production processes.
CNSL, a non-FAME biofuel, is a naturally occurring by-product of the cashew nut industry and acts as a low-cost alternative renewable fuel. It has high acid values and is therefore highly corrosive as well. High potassium found in CNSL blend fuels cause serious post-combustion deposits and corrosion of turbocharger nozzle rings.
The latest version of ISO:8217 specifies the accepted biofuels such as FAME-based biofuels, hydrotreated vegetable oil, defined by the specifications of EN 14214, ASTM D6751 and EN 15940 respectively. These fuels are now established and acknowledged by equipment manufacturers, classification societies and flag administrations as ‘drop-in’ fuels. There is no specification available for CNSL from any authorised body like above.
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