NTSB: Confusion Over Fixed Firefighting System Added to Towboat Damage

A significant engine area fire aboard the towboatCapt Kirby Dupuis intensified due to the fact that the team did not understand exactly how to trigger its set firefighting system, according to the NTSB.

On November 9, 2021, the hauling vesselCapt Kirby Dupuis was pressing thirteen barges upbound on the Ohio River near Belleview,Kentucky At regarding 0708, the master saw a flash of light on the video clip display for the engine area, and also the emergency alarm seemed. The captain turned on the basic alarm system and also informed the team to start firefighting.

The “deckineer” – a deckhand that had actually not yet certified as a designer yet was doing the vessel’s engine-room obligations – attempted to get in the room to combat the fire, yet was reversed by warm and also smoke. He attempted to begin the firepump making use of a remote button, yet it did not function, likely because of fire damages to the electric switchboard. He asked for and also obtained consent to trigger the towboat’s Novec 1230 repaired firefighting system to produce the blaze.

Following treatment, he turned on remote gas shutoffs, safeguarded engine area hatches and also air flow, and also drew among both remote activation bars for the Novec fire reductions system. The fire did not head out, and also he did not listen to any type of activation alarms for the repaired firefighting system (a built-in security function). After splashing a variety of fire extinguishers right into the room and also seeing the fires expanding, he drew the secondly of both bars, and also he thought that the firefighting system ran correctly to produce the blaze after the 2nd pull.

The vessel was left by various other neighboring towboats, which gave limit air conditioning up until a fireboat reached 0900. The fire was out by 1300, with help from numerous fire divisions.

The fire shed via the top and also reduced engine area, creating an approximated $1.8 million in damages. A post-accident evaluation of the engine area video clip established that the resource of the fire was a spray of lubricating oil from the port major engine. A solution supervisor from the engine OEM evaluated the engine and also discovered a damaged o-ring, situated simply listed below a joint on a lube oil supply tube. The tube’s maintaining ring was missing out on, together with the sustaining clips and also placing equipment to hold television in position. The supervisor wrapped up that a pressurized spray of lube oil had actually struck the exhaust manifold and also sparked, after that the duct over the engine had actually blown the fire flat throughout the area.

The reason for the missing out on placing equipment was not established, yet a fleetwide assessment discovered that 10 percent of comparable engines required interest and also modification.

Marine assessors that checked out the vessel after the mishap discovered that the repaired firefighting system had actually never ever turned on. Two draw bars required to be drawn in order to establish the system at work; the deckineer had actually drawn one, causing no impact, and also had actually after that returned later on and also drew the various other one component means. The snuffing out liquid and also propellant continued to be in their cyndrical tubes. A technological examination of the system established that it worked as developed.

The NTSB discovered that though the running firm had a complete SMS and also carried out substantial onboard training, its drills did not consist of orientation with the repaired firefighting system. The driver is presenting a training component to cover this location.

“During interviews, the deckineer did not display a confident understanding of the overall operation of the system. Had the crew been more familiar with the system, and activated it properly, the system would have shut down the engines and ventilation fans before a complete release of both cylinders of suppression fluid into the engine room and may have quickly extinguished the fire,” wrapped up NTSB.