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FIRE IN THE MAIN MACHINERY SPACE
FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
Volume 50, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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Most of us have heard this pipe at some time or other during our time at sea and unfortunately it is not always ‘For Exercise’. The number of high temperature surfaces in any engine room significantly increases the chance of ignition of any type of fuel leak.One only has to think of the WESTRALIA to realise the catastrophic consequences of a large fire in any type of main machinery space.
Although high temperature, fire or smoke alarms may give indications of an incident, the onus is on watchkeepers to ensure that vigilance is maintained throughout all activities including main and auxiliary machinery rounds. This also extends to the monitoring of remote sensing devices’ where an alert watchkeeper may notice an abnormality before the alarm threshold levels have been reached. As such, the important role played by the junior technical sailor conducting rounds cannot be overstressed. Regular checking that system operating parameters are within limits will go a long way towards indicating if an unsafe condition is being reached so that it can be dealt with before it becomes a major concern.
The recent HMAS Hawkesbury fire (OHSIR 02/07) is a perfect example of the requirement for, and importance of, vigilant rounds being conducted by all on watch personnel. In this incident the Auxiliary System Manager (ASM) an ABMT, entered the Main Engine Room (MER), during their normal watchkeeping rounds. Initially the sailor smelt what they thought to be a fire which was then confirmed when they proceeded further into the space. Using a CO2 extinguisher, the ASM attacked the fire until the extinguisher was spent. Due to high noise and distortion, the ASM was unable to establish communications with the Machinery Control Room (MCR) using the standard Motorola Radio.
However, on hearing garbled noise on their Motorola Radio, the Primary Systems Manager (PSM) looked at the MER CCTV and witnessed a flash of light and the actions of the ASM attacking the fire. The PSM crash stopped the Main Engine and Ventilation immediately. Due to the actions of the ASM and PSM, the source of the fire was removed and the fire was extinguished immediately. With no fitted alarm systems giving any indication of an incident, the fact that the on watch ABMT was in the right place at the right time, prevented what could have easily become an out of control machinery space fire.
The Westralia and more recently the Hawkesbury incident are by no means the only machinery space fires that the RAN has experienced. The OHSIR database (http://mhq.defence.gov.au/ohs/index.asp) gives an indication of the range and type of incidents experienced at sea across the fleet. No amount of training whether practical or theoretical will prepare most sailors for the horrors associated with a large uncontrolled fire. However, being aware of the fire fighting procedures laid down for their individual class of ship and conducting Annual Continuation Training (ACT) will go a long way to ensuring that the ship’s crew are better equipped to deal with a major machinery space fire and take appropriate action to contain and eventually extinguish the fire.
To provide fundamental Combat Survivability skills, the School of Survivability and Ship Safety (RANSSSS) was established and places quite a bit of emphasis on fighting an engine room fire. Whilst realism in practical training is difficult to simulate, the simulated machinery spaces at the school place the students in as authentic a scenario as possible.
The potential of a large B class fire (flammable liquids and greases) breaking out in any engine room is ever present. Whilst it is hoped that the pipe, ‘FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! - FIRE IN THE MAIN MACHINERY SPACE!’ will always be ‘for exercise,’ training for a Main Machinery Space fire will continue to be a priority with all RANSSSS establishments and ships. You can do your bit by conducting vigilant rounds and train, train, train.
KEEP NAVY SAFE
Contributed by PO RIGG
RANSSSSTF-EAST
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