Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    2024 IMO Bravery Awards honor tanker and tugboat crews for heroic acts

    Officer to receive IMO bravery award for saving 12 crew members

    Panama

    BMA: Sanctions imposed against Russia

    Work,Safety,Concept.,Wooden,Cube,Blocks,With,Icon,Of,Safety

    DNV: Key IMO safety developments

    seafarers

    Philippines DMW issues call to protect seafarers from warlike areas

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    ammonia bunkering vessel

    Company orders ammonia bunkering vessel for use in Singapore

    WSC

    WSC proposes alignment of EU ETS with IMO Net Zero Framework

    IMO Council World Maritime Day

    IMO: World Maritime Day two-year theme to take policy to practice

    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    vr training

    Companies team up for virtual reality training to better prepare crew

    digital tools onboard

    Company signs for AI autonomous navigation system for PCTC fleet

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    China

    China lays out vision for smarter and greener shipping

    Sanctions Russia

    EU plans to impose new Russian oil price cap

    EU US

    US plans to hit EU and Mexico with 30% tariff starting August

    Dr. Rosalie Balkin

    Dr. Rosalie Balkin to receive IMO International Maritime Prize

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    2024 IMO Bravery Awards honor tanker and tugboat crews for heroic acts

    Officer to receive IMO bravery award for saving 12 crew members

    Panama

    BMA: Sanctions imposed against Russia

    Work,Safety,Concept.,Wooden,Cube,Blocks,With,Icon,Of,Safety

    DNV: Key IMO safety developments

    seafarers

    Philippines DMW issues call to protect seafarers from warlike areas

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    ammonia bunkering vessel

    Company orders ammonia bunkering vessel for use in Singapore

    WSC

    WSC proposes alignment of EU ETS with IMO Net Zero Framework

    IMO Council World Maritime Day

    IMO: World Maritime Day two-year theme to take policy to practice

    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    vr training

    Companies team up for virtual reality training to better prepare crew

    digital tools onboard

    Company signs for AI autonomous navigation system for PCTC fleet

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    China

    China lays out vision for smarter and greener shipping

    Sanctions Russia

    EU plans to impose new Russian oil price cap

    EU US

    US plans to hit EU and Mexico with 30% tariff starting August

    Dr. Rosalie Balkin

    Dr. Rosalie Balkin to receive IMO International Maritime Prize

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

MCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vessel

by The Editorial Team
February 19, 2020
in Accidents
MCIB

MFV Suzanne on fire / Credit: MCIB

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Ireland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) issued an investigation report on the fire and loss of MFV Suzanne II, east of Arklow, in May 2019. While the exact source of the fire is unknown, the report highlights that the quick response of the crew and their knowledge on when to abandon ship was key to their successful rescue.

The incident

On 2 May 2019, a fishing vessel was stopped 30 nautical miles east of Arklow and the crew were taking a break between fishing activities, when a crew member observed smoke coming from an engine room vent. The weather at the time was good.

The skipper went to investigate the source of the smoke and soon realised that there was a serious fire in the engine room.

RelatedNews

Lessons learned: Unsafe workarounds reveal unsafe systems

Fire breaks out aboard cargo vessel in the Philippines

He made an attempt to fight the fire but the level of smoke hampered any effort. The smoke and fire very quickly engulfed the vessel’s accommodation and wheel house.

The crew retrieved the vessel’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and abandoned ship to an inflatable life raft.

A passing angling vessel sighted the smoke from the burning fishing vessel and proceeded in the direction to investigate.

Arriving on-scene, the angling vessel recovered the three crew members from their life raft.

Shortly after, the Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter R117 arrived and lowered a paramedic to assess the crew from the fishing vessel.

The Skipper was airlifted to University Hospital Waterford from where he was later discharged, while the two other crew members were brought to Arklow Harbour.

A short time later, a tug boat with fire fighting capabilities arrived on-scene and commenced fighting the fire onboard the fishing vessel.

The fishing vessel continued to burn and eventually sank.

 

Probable causes

  • The source of the fire is unknown. It started in the engine room and rapidly got out of control. Once the fire was well established it engulfed the vessel and being of timber construction it continued to fuel the fire until the entire vessel was ablaze.
  • Had it been possible to contain the fire by closing dampers and access hatches this might have starved the fire of oxygen and allowed the crew more time in preparing to abandon the vessel. It is, however, unlikely that a fire of this ferocity could have been fully contained and extinguished by the vessel’s crew.
  • Whether the fire detection system did sound but was not heard or whether it failed to alert the crew is unknown. Most likely the fire detection system did not sound as it is improbable that it would not have been heard.

Not sounding could have been due to a recent defect or a longer standing one that would have been picked up if there was a monthly check, or damaged by the fire itself before it could sound. There is no record as to when the system was last tested or inspected as the vessel’s onboard records were lost in the incident. Regulations (S.I. 640 0f 2007) state the following: ‘131. (a) Inspections of the life-saving equipment and fire appliances shall be made at intervals of not more than one month.’ It is a requirement under the Regulations to carry out monthly inspections. The fire detection system functioning properly and sounding would have given the crew earlier warning of the fire and possibly have enabled a more effective effort at fighting the fire.

  • The crew were quick to investigate the fire and determine it was out of control. It is the key to a successful rescue to know when to abandon ship.
  • The abandon ship procedure was carried out successfully.
  • The EPIRB activation facilitated notification to the Coast Guard who quickly activated an emergency response.
  • The damage caused by a fire burning for this duration and the tug’s continued attempt at fire fighting resulted in a loss of buoyancy and the eventual sinking of the fishing vessel.
  • The incident occurred in daylight and the weather conditions at the time were very favourable. This facilitated a successful launch of the life raft and the subsequent transfer of the crew to the passing angling vessel. Had the incident occurred at night or in more adverse weather conditions the outcome may have been very different.

 

Recommendations

MCIB advised the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to issue a Marine Notice reminding owners, skippers, officers and crews of fishing vessels of the following:

  • the requirement for all crew to have basic safety training as per S.I. 587 of 2001.
  • their obligations as per S.I. 640 of 2007 with emphasis on ensuring that fire alarms are regularly tested and maintained in an operational condition. The Marine Notice should include guidance on the inspection and testing of fire detection systems onboard fishing vessels of 15-24 metres in length.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport should review Actions No. 9 and No. 29 of the Maritime Safety Strategy in relation to their implementation and specifically for pre-2007 fishing vessels in relation to the matters raised in this report.

 

Explore more herebelow:

MCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vessel
MFV Suzanne II Report
MCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vesselMCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vessel
MCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vesselMCIB investigation: Crew’s quick response rescued them from burning vessel
Tags: accident reportsfire onboardfishing vesselslessons learnedvessel sinks
Previous Post

USCG updates FAQS on Seafarers’ Access to Maritime Facilities

Next Post

Reefer cargo rerouted from Chinese ports due to plug shortage

SUGGESTED FOR YOU

Eternity C
Videos

Watch: Eternity C sinks in the Red Sea following Houthi attack

July 10, 2025
Lessons learned
Safety

Lessons learned: Ensure there are compatible adapters onboard

July 9, 2025
Lessons learned: Never cross the gantry crane rails while the crane is in use
Accidents

Lessons learned: Faults in design should be considered

July 8, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Always check to monitor or identify pressure

July 8, 2025
Gujarat tanker
Accidents

Tanker explosion off Gujarat coast forces crew to abandon ship

July 7, 2025
Aliağa tanker fire
Accidents

Fire breaks out aboard tanker during dismantling at Aliağa

July 7, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA