Between 2008 and 2017, The Swedish Club received 28 reports concerning engine room fires. When compared to other Hull and
Machinery (H&M) claims the frequency of engine room fires is low but the average cost is among the highest – USD 1,850,000 per occurrence – compared with USD 320,000 for H&M claims in general.
Engine rooms on ships have all the ingredients for a fire – oxygen, heat and flammable liquids under pressure. Not surprisingly, one of the dominating causes is lube-oil or fuel-oil mist spraying onto hot surfaces and then igniting
Prevention
Peter Stålberg, Senior Technical Advisor at The Swedish Club, explains: “The SOLAS requirements concerning oil piping in engine rooms are clear; all types of oil pipes must be screened and flanges protected so that any eventual leak will not spray onto a hot surface. Any surface with a temperature above 220°C must be thermally insulated.” All vessels today are required to have double containment piping (jacketing) for high pressure oil piping. Any leakage inside the containment will be lead to a small collecting tank thus giving the operator early warning of a problem. Any other fuel piping should be screened.
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