Engine room workshop fire on board bulk carrier Opal Naree

Summary

At about 1630 on 15 September 2005, a fire broke out in the engine room workshop on board the bulk carrier Opal Naree.

A fitter had been allocated the task of weld repairing the sewage system save-all base, while the duty oiler was assigned to standby in the workshop below and keep a fire watch. The oiler left the workshop to answer the telephone, and then attended to a ballast pump fault that the second mate had alerted him to.

During this time the fitter continued to work, and it appears that molten metal from the welding process fell into the workshop, landing on coiled electrical cables, causing them to ignite.

The fire was detected by the fitter and the emergency alarm was raised.. The crew mustered and the master contacted the port authority, who, in turn contacted the fire and emergency services.

The crew closed all the engine room doors and fire dampers while the master and chief engineer assessed the situation. They decided to use the fixed fire extinguishing system, and at 1700 carbon dioxide was released into the engine room.

By 1800 two fire fighting tugs were standing by the ship and the fire and emergency services authority (FESA) were on board.

At 2153 the ship's crew and FESA commenced the first of two inspections of the engine room.

There was no sign of fire and by 2310 the ship's crew had begun ventilating the engine room.