An error with fire flaps led to engine space flooding, causing costly damage
- Safety Flash
- Published on 23 November 2015
- Generated on 22 February 2025
- IMCA SF 19/15
- 2 minute read
A member has reported an incident in which there was sea-water flooding of one of the engine spaces on a crew transfer vessel, leading to significant and expensive equipment damage. The immediate cause of the flood was a small error - fire flaps not being secured properly.
What happened?
Some days before the incident, the engine space fire flaps had been operated. But the retaining pin to hold the fire flap open had not been returned to the correct position. This led to the fire flap bouncing shut on the next occasion when the vessel was out in moderate seas. With the fire flap now shut the engine air intake began to loosen fixings within the engine space due to its immense suction. One of the fixings loosened was the toilet overboard pipe. With no-one aware of it until the bilge alarm sounded, the engine room had been filling quickly with sea water as the suction, combined with gravity, drew it in.
On the way back to port and long before the cause of the flooding had been realised, the engine room continued to flood. The engine room bilge pump became blocked and the manual bilge pump (whale gusher) quickly perished after a lot of operation. The mobile suction bilge pump was used to contain the water level.
The vessel returned to port on one engine, with the other engine bay flooding up to its engine mounts and the engine in reduced power mode. The flooding caused the engine on that side to require substantial servicing and repair to remove damaged parts and water residue/ emulsified oil from its machinery and drive gear, resulting in significant off-hire time. There were no injuries or risk to life, but it was an extremely expensive lesson to learn.
Members may wish to refer to the following incidents (search words: flooding, crew):
- Water ingress to bow thruster space
- Near-miss: Engine room flooding
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.