Following the fire on board ECC Topaz and her subsequent sinking, boaters are being reminded of the fire risk from exhaust gases and uninsulated exhaust pipes.
The catamaran ECC Topaz, a wind farm support vessel, caught fire off the coast of Lowestoft on 14 January 2014. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) believes that the fire started in the starboard hull in an area directly under the wheelhouse and spread rapidly through the vessel. The three crew members were forced to take to a liferaft from which they were airlifted. The ECC Topaz later sank.
It is thought that the fire may have been caused by an uninsulated section of a diesel fired air heater exhaust pipe touching the wooden deck under the wheelhouse or by hot exhaust gases leaking from a deteriorated piece of exhaust pipe on to flammable materials kept in the compartment. The flammable materials included rags, paper rolls, drums of diesel and lubricating oils.
The MAIB is urging boaters to follow these safety steps:
• Check that all the exhaust systems on your vessel are adequately lagged
• Inspect the exhaust pipes frequently for signs of deterioration and replace if required
• Follow the inspection and maintenance schedule for your vessel’s air heaters as required by the manufacturer
• Do not store flammable material in the heater compartment
RYA
Photo: U.S. Coast Guard
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