Faulty Charging Cable Causes Fire in Ship’s Cabin!

By
Mfame Team
-
3579

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Usage of mobile phones on board a ship has become very common where the crew are so obsessed that there are some who buy new phones at every port.

Assume a scenario where, when joining a ship or during a transit, you forgot to pick up the phone charging cable and ended up buying a new one. Most cases, people do not buy the OEM cables. There is a common misconception that the cable is for ‘just’ charging and does not worth buying a new OEM one.

Here is a case where the non-OEM mobile phone charging cable has been spotted when it smouldered. A shore-based member of staff was at work at their workstation when they noticed that their phone adaptor charger, which was plugged in and charging their phone, began smouldering. The employee immediately turned off and unplugged the charger and reported the occurrence. On inspection of the phone charger, it was noticed that the charger cable was damaged and in an old and worn out condition.

A Question to Think About

How many of us report such minor Charging Cable smoulders?

We assume that these are minor occurrences and continue to buy a new cable and once again a non-OEM one. We fail to address the root-cause of such incident.

Many do not land up or have witnessed such situation as they would continue to use the original OEM charging cable. 

What happened in the above case

A summary of actions

  1. The stop work policy actually worked: The adapter was immediately unplugged and the burned cable was removed from use, and the occurrence was immediately reported;
  2. A safety stand down was conducted with office personnel to discuss the importance of being more attentive to the condition of electrical appliances; 
  3. A monthly office inspection schedule was established and implemented, emphasizing the checking of electrical equipment, fire detection equipment and fire-fighting equipment.

TIP: Did the ship’s electrical officer inspect and certify the charging cables of your personal effects?

We have been reported that certain ‘Safety-concious’ shipping companies have a routine to inspect and certify the charging cables belonging to the crew onboard.

Lessons Learnt

  1. The importance of checking the condition of personal electrical equipment; 
  2. Electrical hazards are all around us not just on the vessel but in the office as well. The following points may be useful: 
    1. all electrical appliances being used should be genuine and in a good working condition
    2. plug sockets and extension leads are to be used correctly and not overloaded
    3. care should be taken when dealing with different styles of plugs and sockets from different countries
    4. ensure all electrical appliances are switched off after use or before leaving the place of work
    5. ensure all electrical appliances are clear from any liquid spillage
    6. ensure all extension leads are tidy and do not constitute a trip or fall hazard
    7. if you notice or suspect any electrical hazard in the workplace report it immediately.

Adding to the above – Marine Safety Forum has come out with a safety alert as below:

It has been reported by one of our members that they had been subject to a small fire in a crew member’s cabin. The crew member who was not in his cabin at the time had left a power bank (battery pack for charging small appliances) charging and unattended, it is thought that the battery had overheated causing the unit to melt, however this is still the subject of an investigation.

Cause

This unit appears to be a cheap unit purchased online where the quality control may not be to the standard expected. This also applies to cheap and non-branded (non OEM) phone chargers; these are not to be brought for use onboard our vessels.

Members should take great care with mains battery chargers, lithium battery ‘power banks’ and USB cables that are not “OEM” (Original Equipment Manufacturer). It is particularly important to ensure that USB cables are appropriate to safely handle the higher levels of current delivered by some modern chargers. Portable electrical equipment brought on board vessels should be checked and rated against the ship’s power supply by qualified personnel. Electrical items should not be left charging, or on standby, in unoccupied spaces (such as cabins.)

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Reference & Source: MSF & IMCA