Marshall Islands alert re Wärtsilä Vasa 32 engines
Marshall Islands issued a marine safety advisory to inform that the Maritime Administrator is currently conducting a marine safety investigation into an engine room fire on a Marshall Islands registered ship.
The ship is fitted with Wärtsilä Vasa 32 engines.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
When the engine involved in the fire was examined, three bolts were missing from the flange connecting the high pressure fuel oil supply line leading from the hot box to the pipe set, or bridge, connecting the A and B sides of the engine.
The fourth bolt was found broken. (See Figure below)
In addition, bolts for a bracket supporting fuel oil piping and an air pipe inside the hot box were found broken. The bracket with the broken bolts is located inside the A side hot box at the engine’s free end immediately prior to the flange connection for the fuel oil piping between the collection box to the bridge connecting the A and B sides were found broken. (See Figure below).
When the ship’s other engines were examined, the bolts for this same bracket were found broken.
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The Maritime Administrator is aware of investigation reports of fires by other flag and coastal State administrations that found broken bolts on the same engine. Owners and ship mangers of ships fitted with Wärtsilä Vasa 32 engines are advised to immediately inspect these bolts and ensure that all fittings are properly connected. If bolts aremissing or broken, Wärtsilä and the ship’s classification society should be notified immediately. In addition please advise the Maritime Administrator at[email protected] and [email protected] |
Source & Image credit: RMI
