Recent analysis of the Shipowners Club’s Condition Survey Programme has highlighted that approximately 25% of the vessels surveyed showed evidence of contaminated engine room bilges. As such, Shipowners Club seeks to raise awareness of the potential fire hazards associated with oily engine rooms and the checks and steps that a ship’s crew and/or surveyor should undertake.
Whilst an oily bilge may not be the immediate source of a fire, any fire that arises in an engine room or machinery space has the potential to escalate and spread rapidly. The presence of oil accumulated in bilges or drip trays act as additional fuel to sustain burning and increase the likelihood of the fire reaching further areas.
With respect to these, the Club notes the following:
- Bilges, especially in the engine room, should be kept clean and free of oil at all times and chemical cleaning should be completed periodically.
- Operators should paint engine room bilges a Continue reading “Research findings highlight issues with dirty engine room bilges”
