The importance of attention to detail in maritime safety and oversight risks in firefighting systems
Metkel Yohannes highlighted a critical issue in maritime safety: the discovery of fundamental errors and oversights that often remained unnoticed until a ship underwent inspection failure or experienced a fire incident. One such incident underscored the gravity of these oversights.
When Survitec responded to a vessel following an engine room fire, the crew suspected a malfunction in their high expansion foam firefighting system. Upon investigation, they identified a blockage caused by a simple yet significant oversight: one of the protective caps remained on the inlet after the installation of a new foam pump. This oversight, while seemingly minor, could have had catastrophic consequences, emphasizing the need for meticulous attention to detail in maritime safety protocols.
Survitec also finds wrong parts being used or poorly fitted, or low-quality parts that deteriorate rapidly and fail. For example, in CO2 firefighting systems, hydraulic hoses are often mistaken for high-pressure hoses, but they are not designed for CO2 applications and may burst under pressure.
Certification issues lead to costly damage
The white paper also highlights an incident involving a bulk carrier. The vessel had completed a fire safety inspection and received full certification from a local service provider. Shortly after leaving port, a fire broke out in the engine room. Over half of the cylinders failed to activate despite the CO2 system having been inspected and approved. While the fire was eventually extinguished, it caused significant damage to the vessel, resulting in off- hire and repair costs estimated between $2-3 million USD.
Concerns about service quality and inspection standards
Metkel Yohannes explained that there was evidence of a slip in standards regarding basic safety practices, along with a wide disparity in service quality between service providers. He mentioned that approval stamps were being applied to fire systems and appliances that would or should not pass inspection. He noted that some issues, such as rust on a valve or fire extinguisher, were self-evident, but others were less obvious and could have catastrophic consequences.
New challenges in fire safety
He also pointed out that the development and introduction of alternative fuels, including the use and transportation of lithium-ion batteries, brought new fire risks and safety challenges that couldn’t be ignored. Metkel Yohannes emphasized that fire systems and equipment must be maintained and tested as mandated by SOLAS, the IMO, and the FSS code.
The importance of trustworthy service partners
Metkel Yohannes further stated that shipowners and operators need accredited service partners they could trust and must have confidence in the system of approvals. He expressed concern about substandard inspections taking place, indicating that although service providers may boast many approvals, they might not be suitably equipped or resourced to perform all the required tests.
"As an industry, current practice should be reviewed to determine if more oversight and governance, and more quality control procedures are required to protect crew and vessel safety," concluded Metkel Yohannes.
Fire Exit
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THE REPORT | SEP 2024 | ISSUE 109 | 93
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