Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Monday, September 25, 2023
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    Explosion leads to crew evacuation in the Romanian port of Sulina

    Explosion leads to crew evacuation in the Romanian port of Sulina

    NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

    NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

    BMA Investigation: Seafarer suffers fatal injuries during mooring

    BMA Investigation: Seafarer suffers fatal injuries during mooring

    Gard: How use of mooring lines affects crew’s life

    Gard: How use of mooring lines affects crew’s life

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

    social media detox

    Stay SEAFiT: Time for social media detox

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    symphony of the seas

    Royal Caribbean Group conducts 12 weeks of biofuel testing

    Watch: How shipping helps Apple reduce 95% of transport emissions

    Watch: How shipping helps Apple reduce 95% of transport emissions

    Samsung Heavy Industries creates world’s first laser, high-speed welding robot

    Samsung Heavy Industries creates world’s first laser, high-speed welding robot

    California launches international methane-reduction initiative

    California launches international methane-reduction initiative

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

    K Line, TIS, Miotsukushi to develop AI-powered automatic draft survey application

    Hapag-Lloyd focuses on enhanced connectivity onboard

    Hapag-Lloyd focuses on enhanced connectivity onboard

    BV eyes data-driven decarbonization solutions

    BV eyes data-driven decarbonization solutions

    Delivering for the seafarer of tomorrow

    IGP&I: Electronic Trade Documents Act comes into force in the UK

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 2-8 April

    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 18 – 22 September

    offshore wind installation vessels

    Allianz: Prominent risks in the offshore wind industry

    Singapore is the top maritime centre for 10 consecutive years

    Singapore is the top maritime centre for 10 consecutive years

    Global bunker supplier complies with carbon reduction criteria

    Global bunker supplier complies with carbon reduction criteria

  • Columns
    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    AMSA: Seafarers must have a voice in shaping shipping’s future

    MNWB: Seafarers’ needs are no different to anyone else’s needs

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    Explosion leads to crew evacuation in the Romanian port of Sulina

    Explosion leads to crew evacuation in the Romanian port of Sulina

    NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

    NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

    BMA Investigation: Seafarer suffers fatal injuries during mooring

    BMA Investigation: Seafarer suffers fatal injuries during mooring

    Gard: How use of mooring lines affects crew’s life

    Gard: How use of mooring lines affects crew’s life

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Practicing gratitude can change your life

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Always do what your gut tells you: Keep it healthy

    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

    Book Review: How we perceive and deal with luck in life and business

    social media detox

    Stay SEAFiT: Time for social media detox

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    symphony of the seas

    Royal Caribbean Group conducts 12 weeks of biofuel testing

    Watch: How shipping helps Apple reduce 95% of transport emissions

    Watch: How shipping helps Apple reduce 95% of transport emissions

    Samsung Heavy Industries creates world’s first laser, high-speed welding robot

    Samsung Heavy Industries creates world’s first laser, high-speed welding robot

    California launches international methane-reduction initiative

    California launches international methane-reduction initiative

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

    K Line, TIS, Miotsukushi to develop AI-powered automatic draft survey application

    Hapag-Lloyd focuses on enhanced connectivity onboard

    Hapag-Lloyd focuses on enhanced connectivity onboard

    BV eyes data-driven decarbonization solutions

    BV eyes data-driven decarbonization solutions

    Delivering for the seafarer of tomorrow

    IGP&I: Electronic Trade Documents Act comes into force in the UK

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    ClassNK amends its rules on construction of steel ships

    Liberia: How to comply with PSC focus on firefighting and clean machinery spaces

    orange county oil spill fines

    Crude oil tanker to pay 88 crores for damaging Haldia oil jetty

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    China conducts ballast water inspections to vessels arriving from Japan

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

    M/V “HAKSA” refused access to the Paris MoU

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 2-8 April

    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 18 – 22 September

    offshore wind installation vessels

    Allianz: Prominent risks in the offshore wind industry

    Singapore is the top maritime centre for 10 consecutive years

    Singapore is the top maritime centre for 10 consecutive years

    Global bunker supplier complies with carbon reduction criteria

    Global bunker supplier complies with carbon reduction criteria

  • Columns
    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Seafarer Stories: Capt. Cristian Bacanu, Master

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    Wellness Corner: Tom O’Hare, Mission to Seafarers

    AMSA: Seafarers must have a voice in shaping shipping’s future

    MNWB: Seafarers’ needs are no different to anyone else’s needs

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

NTSB investigation: Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel

by The Editorial Team
February 15, 2021
in Accidents
engine failure fire

Flames coming from the starboard rudder room door / Credit: USCG

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

NTSB issued an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the towing vessel City of Cleveland on the Lower Mississippi River, in February 2020. The investigation identified catastrophic engine failure and crankcase breach of the port main engine, as key cause of the incident.

The incident

GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!

On February 26, 2020, about 1600 local time, the towing vessel City of Cleveland was pushing 18 dry cargo barges (15 loaded and 3 empty) upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, approximately 15 miles south of Natchez, Mississippi, when the vessel experienced a main engine failure followed by an engine room fire.

All nine crew members safely evacuated to the barges and were rescued by nearby Good Samaritan vessels, which worked to extinguish the fire.

RelatedNews

NTSB Investigation: Grounding of tugboat CC Portland

BMA Investigation: Seafarer suffers fatal injuries during mooring

The City of Cleveland was later towed to the operator’s facility in Rosedale, Mississippi. There was no pollution or injuries. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $2 million.

 

Probable cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the fire aboard the towing vessel City of Cleveland was the catastrophic failure and crankcase breach of the port main engine, resulting from the failure of a connecting rod assembly.

Contributing to the severity of damage to the vessel was the lack of a fixed fire-extinguishing system for the engine room, as well as the loss of electrical power to the single fire pump.

 

Analysis

During a postaccident examination of the wreckage, the no. 4 left and right cylinder master connecting and articulating rods were found still attached to each other outside the crankcase, and the piston pin and connecting rod clamp were missing. Therefore, the initial failure was likely with the connecting rod clamp or the bolt that held the piston pin. Regardless, the force of the driven loose connecting rods inside the engine was enough to puncture a hole in the side of the crankcase on the port side and eject the piston head through the no. 4 right cover on the starboard side.

The failure of the connecting rod and subsequent catastrophic damage to the crankcase likely allowed hot pressurized fuel and oil to spread to the lower engine room and thereby ignite. The significant heat and smoke damage to the upper engine room indicated that the fire spread up the port side of the engine room, then aft in the upper engine room, and eventually to the rudder room.

Although the doors to the engine room were closed, the exterior windows in the upper engine room were open, and there were no means for the crew to close them from outside of the engine room. The air drawn through the open windows likely further exacerbated the fire’s spread.

In addition, the vessel’s firehoses were accessible, but the crew could not use them because the running generator in the upper engine room was starved of combustion air and shut down, and the vessel lost electrical power, rendering the single fire pump inoperable. Therefore, the two semi-portable extinguishers, stowed on each side of the upper engine room, were the only means for the crew to fight the conflagration.

The crew had previously performed fire drills aboard the City of Cleveland and planned to fight a possible engine fire by dropping the semi-portable extinguisher hoses and nozzles to the lower engine room and releasing the extinguishers’ dry chemical. However, the portside extinguisher was inaccessible due to the flames, and the hose on the starboard extinguisher failed proximate to the extinguisher.

Additionally, given that the fire was largely fueled by flammable liquids, initially outboard of the port engine and well forward of where the extinguishers were stowed, it is unlikely the crew’s initial plan to use the extinguishers would have succeeded.

The engine room was not equipped with a fixed fire-extinguishing system, nor was it required to be by existing regulations. If the City of Cleveland had a fixed fire-extinguishing system in the engine room, as well as a means to close the ventilation and open windows in the engine room from the outside, the fire may have been able to be extinguished.

Without an effective means to fight the fire, the crew was forced to evacuate to their tow before being picked up and rescued by a nearby Good Samaritan vessel.

 

Lessons learned

-Engine Room Fires

This report follows release, last week, of the investigationn into on the fire and explosion onboard the towing vessel ‘Susan Lynn’, off Lousiana, in October 2019, also identifying catastrophic engine failure as key cause of the accident.

Engine rooms contain multiple fuel and ignition sources, making the spaces especially vulnerable to rapidly spreading fires.

Designers and operators of towing vessels should evaluate fire hazards and provide effective means to mitigate them. Operators should have equipment and procedures in place to quickly contain and suppress engine room fires before they can spread to other spaces and/or cause a loss of propulsion and electrical power.

 

Explore more herebelow:

City of Cleveland report
Tags: accident reportsengine roomfire onboardlessons learnedNTSBsm
Previous Post

Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 8-12 Feb

Next Post

Three die after fire breaks out on PSV off Mumbai

Related News

Lessons learend
Accidents

Lessons learned: Severe injury during routine task

September 22, 2023
Lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Loss of anchor in bad weather

September 20, 2023
Lessons learned: Unexpected descent and ascent of mattress lifting frame
Accidents

Lessons learned: Worker struck in the face by a crane hook

September 18, 2023
dry dock
Accidents

Lessons learned: Hazards pose to personnel during lifting operations

September 15, 2023
Lessons learned: Ensure proper signage and physical barriers are in place where required
Accidents

Lessons learned: Death due to fire incident and fall from height

September 15, 2023
Safety Flash
Accidents

Lessons learned: Finger injury while setting up pipe cutting operation

September 14, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recommended

NATO phonetic alphabet

Do you know what NATO phonetic alphabet is?

November 24, 2020
singapore border measures

Do you know what GT and DWT measure in a ship?

November 10, 2021
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

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

Useful Links

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

© 2021 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
    • Reports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Opinions
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Wellness Corner
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2021 SAFETY4SEA

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Disclaimer.