- An explosion during a fuel changeover killed a second engineer.
- Excess vaporized fuel and valve failure caused the blast.
- The crew acted swiftly, but risk assessment was lacking.
On 03 January 2024, a vessel transporting paraffin, experienced a tragic incident involving a boiler explosion during a fuel changeover process from low-sulfur marine gas oil (LSMGO) to very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). The event resulted in the death of the second engineer and highlighted several safety and operational concerns, reports MSIU.
What Happened?
While en route from Agioi Theodoroi, Greece, to Genoa, Italy, engineers attempted to change over the boiler fuel from LSMGO to VLSFO.
The starboard boiler failed to fire repeatedly, eventually leading to an explosion at 1406 on 08 January 2024. The second engineer, who was inspecting the boiler burner, sustained fatal injuries.
Why It Happened?
The explosion occurred due to:
- Excessive vaporized LSMGO: The fuel’s elevated temperature caused improper atomization and unburnt fuel accumulation.
- Solenoid valve failure: A critical valve remained closed, leading to overpressure in the fuel circuit.
- Risk misjudgment: The crew assumed boiler safety systems would neutralize any risks despite repeated misfires.
- Absence of monitoring: The solenoid valve’s status was not monitored, leaving its malfunction unnoticed.
Conclusion
The incident underscored operational gaps, inadequate risk perception, and technical system failures during the fuel changeover process.
Despite a well-trained crew’s swift response, these factors converged to cause a preventable tragedy.
Precautions & Recommendations
- Stop and report abnormalities: Boilers must not be used after failure until authorized by the company.
- Enhance monitoring systems: Install indicators to track valve functionality.
- Revise procedures: Update fuel changeover protocols and conduct thorough risk assessments.
- Frequent inspections: Mandate six-monthly checks by authorized service engineers.
- Safety signage: Place warning posters near boiler areas to prevent unauthorized access.
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Source: MSIU
