Transport Malta has issued safety investigation report into the fire that busrsted inside a cargo hold on board the Maltese registered container ship Barzan.
At about 2209 (local time) on 07 September 2015, a fire was detected inside one of the cargo holds of Barzan, a Maltese registered container ship. At the time, the vessel was about 60 nautical miles off Cabo Finisterre. The crew responded and commenced fire-fighting with boundary cooling and the use of the water drenching system on board. Subsequently, the fixed CO2 system was used but due to a number of leaks in the CO2 line, the required amount of gas did not reach the cargo hold to be effective to smother the fire. The starboard fire main line then developed a large leak at a joint in the under deck passage way and had to be isolated. This restricted the fire-fighting efforts to only the port side, and rendered the starboard side water drenching system unusable.
Eventually, the crew members, were able to control and restrict the fire and subsequently, the vessel resumed her passage, although was instructed to head to Rotterdam, where she arrived safely on 10 September. The fire was finally extinguished on 14 September by the Port of Rotterdam’s fire brigade. Barzan sustained minor structural damage in cargo hold no. 2. The CO2 system had to be inspected and overhauled and the starboard fire main line was adjusted and repaired.
Conclusion:
The safety investigation concluded that although the CO2 system and fire mains had been tested satisfactorily prior to the vessel’s delivery in May 2015, the quality of the workmanship had contributed to the subsequent failure of both systems.
The Marine Safety Investigation Unit has made two recommendations to the flag State Administration and United Arab Shipping Company, the managers of Barzan, aimed at improving fire safety on board.
Further details may be found in the report below
Source & Image credit : Transport Malta
