Leakage or spray of fuel due to a failure in the oil system Below we list some of the most commonly occurring causes of fuel spraying from low pressure piping systems. The list is by no means exhaustive, but a review of past Gard cases has shown that below listed failures occur frequently.
Piping, piping connections and other associated components, such as o-rings, were not original parts or of a type recommended by the manufacturer. In some cases, modifications had been done by the crew under existing management, whilst in others the crew were not aware of such modifications as they had been done under previous ownership or management.
- Piping connection had not been tightened to the required torque and with time it loosened due to, for example, vibrations. Another reason may be incorrect assembly after maintenance.
- Bolts for flanges or filters breaking due to fatigue caused by overtightening over a period of time. In some cases, securing bolts were also found loose or missing altogether.
- Fatigue fracture of pipes. Such pipes are typically not well supported along their entire length, which causes excessive stress due to vibrations. Lack of support may be attributed to the design or failure to reinstall the holding brackets after maintenance.
- Fuel oil filter covers coming loose and displacement of the spindle from the top cover for various reasons.
- Rupture of rubberized hoses due to degradation caused by the heat generated from nearby machinery.
Oil coming in contact with hot surfaces Shielding can either be by insulating hot spots with thermal insulation or anti-splashing tapes, and/or by using physical barriers such as spray shields. Some typical issues with insulation which we have seen in our claims portfolio are:
- the quality may differ from yard to yard, - it can deteriorate with age, - it may not have been fixed back properly after maintenance, and
- it can become soaked with oil over a period of time due to minor leakages.
As for physical barriers:
- they may not have been part of the original design and therefore not fitted, or
- where fitted, they may not have been installed back in place after maintenance has been carried out on the oil system, as in our case study, and as time passes may even be misplaced.
Older vessels need more attention
One of the factors which must be considered when assessing fire risks in engine rooms is the age of vessels. The risk of leakages from machinery may increase as ships grow older. We discuss this further below but highlight here some of the main issues that can increase the risk of fire in the engine room on older vessels.
- Protection of hot surfaces may degrade, with the quality of insulation may deteriorating thereby increasing the probability of ignition and risk of fires.
- Older vessels can face cuts to their maintenance and safety budgets as they near the end of their service life.
- A vessel may have changed ownership and management a number of times during its life, and this can have a direct impact on the consistency of maintenance in the engine room.
Typical hotspots in the engine room
Based on previous fire incidents handled by Gard, we have found that the below listed areas acted as a source of ignition in most cases. The temperature of these areas can easily exceed 500 °C which may be well above the oil’s auto ignition temperature.
- Exhaust manifold, pipes and associated flanges - Exposed areas of boilers - Turbochargers - Indicator valves on cylinders - Heater for purifier units - Electrical wires/components and switchboards. Melting or smoldering of cables can also contribute to the transmission of heat
THE REPORT | SEP 2024 | ISSUE 109 | 125
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