Official report identifies fuel leak on hot exhaust as cause of ferry engine room fire

An official report has determined that an engine room fire on a ferry traveling from Ireland to Wales ignited when fuel from a loose pipe dripped onto a hot exhaust. Emergency services were dispatched to aid the Stena Line service in February last year, as it sailed between Rosslare, County Wexford, and Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. Emergency services were first notified at night when the Stena Europe was approximately two nautical miles (2.3 miles) off Fishguard. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report indicated that Stena had subsequently reviewed its safety management systems and implemented actions to mitigate against future fires. The report stated that the protection in place was ineffective when the fire commenced. “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 report said. It further noted that the crew was not adequately trained to inspect engine fuel systems, and temperature measuring equipment designed to monitor exhaust insulation failed to effectively identify hot spots. The report recommended that a paper be submitted to the International Maritime Organization, proposing the introduction of a requirement to utilize thermographic equipment for detecting exposed hot surfaces. It was also recommended to Stena that it implement thermal imaging cameras for this purpose. Recommendations have also been made to the firm to review its defect reporting system, provide training to enhance equipment inspections, and disseminate details of this accident to ships within its fleet. The report stated that Stena had undertaken a review of company safety management systems and implemented a review process to manage service bulletins and letters from engine manufacturers. The company stated it had “fully engaged with the MAIB” regularly since the fire “to ensure a full and accurate report.” “Now that the final report has been published, we will ensure the recommendations contained in it are shared across our fleet groups as a learning opportunity,” it said. It added that the Stena Europe has since left the region, and the report will be shared with its new management company. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.