Fatal engine room fire on suction dredger Arco Avon
- Safety Flash
- Published on 20 September 2016
- Generated on 22 February 2025
- IMCA SF 24/16
- 2 minute read
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a report into a fatal fire in the engine room of the suction dredger, Arco Avon, in August 2015.
What happened?
A fire broke out in the engine room while the vessel was loading a sand cargo approximately 12 miles offshore. The vessel’s third engineer was badly burned in the fire and later died as a result of his injuries. As a consequence of the fire, which was extinguished following activation of the COâ‚ smothering system, the vessel lost all power and remained at anchor with its dredging equipment partially deployed for 9 days until it could be taken under tow and delivered to a repair facility.
The MAIB investigation concluded that:
- The third engineer was attempting to repair a failed fuel pipe when fuel, under pressure in the pipe, ignited.
- No one else on board was aware of a failed fuel pipe or that the third engineer had apparently decided to repair it.
- The third engineer was using a portable angle grinder to access the repair site and had underestimated the risk of doing so.
- Possible contributing factors to the third engineer’s underestimation of risk were that he had neither carried out a formal risk assessment nor sought a permit to work before starting the repair.
The full MAIB report can be downloaded at gov.uk/maib-reports/fire-in-the-engine-room-on-the-suction-dredger-arco-avon-with-loss-of-1-life
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.