Lessons learned: Rapid response to fire crucial for its prevention - SAFETY4SEA - Safety4Sea

As per UK MAIB’s latest Safety Digest a ro-ro cargo ferry experienced flames from the refrigerated unit. While nary injuries were reports, important lessons are to beryllium learned.

A roll-on/roll-off rider ferry (RoPax) was embarking passengers and loading cargo trailers successful a larboard successful Northern Europe.

Stevedores towed a refrigerated cargo trailer onto the main conveyance platform and the unit plugged the trailer into the ferry’s powerfulness proviso to alteration the refrigeration portion to tally passim the voyage.

The unit lashed the trailer successful spot and continued loading cargo.

A fewer minutes later, a unit subordinate spotted flames and fume coming from the refrigerated portion connected the trailer. He instantly raised the alarm, past disconnected the powerfulness proviso and tackled the occurrence with a adust pulverization occurrence extinguisher.

The occurrence was rapidly extinguished, with nary injuries to unit oregon harm to the ferry, and the trailer was towed from the vas onto the quay.

Subsequent probe recovered that the trailer’s refrigeration portion had developed an electrical responsibility that caused the fire.

The shipping institution issued a circular to their freight suppliers, advising them to behaviour refrigerated trailer yearly work and electrical information checks.

Lessons learned

• Action: Rapid effect to a tiny occurrence prevented it from escalating and minimised the hazard of idiosyncratic wounded and harm to the vessel. Ship operators are reminded of the worth of grooming and drills to guarantee that their unit are prepared to woody with exigency events.
• Check: Refrigerated trailers are commonly transported connected committee ro-ro and RoPax ferries. If a portion appears damaged oregon poorly maintained, the unit should person enactment from the shipping institution to garbage carriage until information checks person been completed and the portion is declared safe.
• Maintain: Shippers are reminded of the value of maintaining their refrigeration units successful bully information to trim the hazard of harm and fires.