(www.MaritimeSafety.com) Fires on ships present extreme danger. Engine room fires are challenging to combat due to the confined space and an abundance of fire triangle elements: heat, fuel and air. Therefore, a vessel's crew must maintain the engine room to a high standard to reduce the fire risk.

When flammable liquids leak, splash, or spray onto an exposed high-temperature surface, they can auto-ignite. The risk of ignition is higher in the areas around hot exhaust manifolds of oil-fired boilers and diesel engines and indicator valves of such machinery. Fuel leaks cause up to 70% of all engine room fires.

The video "Engine Room Fire Safety" highlights the potential sources that can result in the development of a fire in the engine room and critical factors that the vessel's crew and superintendent should pay constant attention to for their prevention.

Source: West P&I

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