Failure of a diesel generator caused an engine room fire aboard a commercial fishing vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
No injuries were reported in connection with the December 1, 2020, fire aboard the 85-foot-long commercial fishing vessel Master Dylan, but the incident resulted in the total loss of the $300,000 vessel.
?The NTSB released details of its investigation in Marine Accident Brief 21/19? released Tuesday. The NTSB says the crew of the vessel were trawling for shrimp when they reported hearing a “loud explosion” in the engine room, after which they saw fire and black smoke. The captain attempted to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful. A nearby fishing vessel rescued the crew from the burning vessel. An offshore supply vessel eventually extinguished the fire using water cannons. Master Dustin II, a vessel owned by the same company, proceeded to tow the Master Dylan to the nearest point of land. The Master Dylan ran aground during the tow and the fire re-flashed. The fire did not extinguish and eventually the Master Dylan rolled onto its starboard side and sank.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of the engine room fire was the catastrophic failure of a diesel generator. Contributing to the spread of the fire was the location of the fuel shutoff valves within the engine room, which prevented the crew from securing them.
?“Following the initiation of an engine room fire, it is imperative to remove the source of available fuel to the fire found in the fuel oil and lube oil systems,” the report said. “Vessel designers, builders, owners, and operators are encouraged to install, regularly test, and have emergency drills that incorporate remote cut-off valves for fuel and lube oil lines.”
Improving fishing vessel safety remains a priority for NTSB and it is an issue on the NTSB’s 2021-2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.
On October 14, the NTSB will host a virtual roundtable on improving fishing vessel safety featuring government officials, industry leaders, fishing vessel operators, safety experts and survivors of fishing vessel accidents to discuss what can be done to address commercial fishing safety concerns and implement NTSB safety recommendations and improve the safety of fishing operations in the U.S. You can register to attend the roundtable here.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,798 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
President-elect Donald Trump has taken aim at Panama’s management of the Panama Canal, threatening potential action over what he calls “exorbitant” tolls and unfair treatment of U.S. interests. “The fees...
A powerful hurricane-force low pressure system in the North Pacific Ocean is generating extraordinary sea conditions, with significant wave heights reaching 65.77 feet (20 meters), according to the National Weather...
U.S. container ports recorded their fourteenth consecutive month of growth in November, with inbound volumes surging 13.1% year-over-year across the nation’s ten largest ports, according to the latest report from...
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,798 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
