Case study - 2. Bagged Copra Fire

( Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut used to extract coconut oil)

       Bagged copra was being loaded from a wharf at a minor Asian port on to an open-decked self-propelled barge. During the three-day loading operation, there were brief rain showers, and even though loading was suspended at these times, the cargo was not covered from the rain. The bags were stacked against the bridge-front bulkhead almost as high as the wheelhouse and subsequent athwartship rows of bags were added from aft to forward ending at the bow door. When loading was nearly complete with about 3000 bags of copra (approx 250 tonnes) on board,  a fire started within the cargo and rapidly spread throughout the consignment. Firefighter road tankers came quickly to the wharf but water jets from their fire engines proved inadequate to extinguish the fierce blaze. The worried harbour authorities forced the barge to cast off from the berth, leaving it to drift in the harbour with no assistance. The master and crew were unnecessarily put in grave danger by this careless act. Finally, after about two days' drifting, the fire burnt itself out and barge was towed to a repair facility.

       The cause of the fire could not be reliably established but it is likely to have originated either from a carelessly thrown cigarette butt or, as it is known to do, the copra wetted by rain could have self-heated to spontaneous combustion. As the cargo was fully exposed to air from all sides, the fire spread rapidly. Foam could have been more effective in firefighting, but in the absence of a properly equipped firefighting tug, and once the barge was cast adrift, it was out of reach for the local fire trucks that had the means to generate foam.

Lessons learn

Bagged or bulk copra should only be stowed inside holds or compartments that are fitted with fixed firefighting systems. Open deck stowage should be avoided as it poses a serious fire hazard.

Answer the questions.

1. What was the biggest mistake in the stowage of bagged copra?

2. Is it correct to give deck stowage to dry cargo which can be easily wetted?

3. What consequences may such stowage lead to in adverse weather?

4. What put the master and the crew in grave danger?

5. Why do you think was it better to use foam to extinguish bagged copra fire?

6. Will it be reasonable and justified to take legal action against Port Authorities who endangered the crew by forcing them to cast off from the berth?

Explain the following terms.

1. An open-decked self-propelled barge ____________________________________________

2. Bridge-front bulkhead _________________________________________________________

3. Fierce blaze __________________________________________________________________

4. To cast off from the berth _______________________________________________________  

5. Open deck stowage _______________________________________________________

Match words from column A with their synonyms from column B.

A	B
wharf	A. self-ignition
athwartship	B. conflagration
to cast off	C. shipment
fierce blaze	D. serious
consignment	E. across
grave	F. to let go the lines
combustion	G. quay

Choose the correct answer.

1. Bagged copra must be loaded :

a)on deck

b) into holds

c)in tanks

d) in reservoirs

2. Copra is liable to produce heat when:

a)wetted

b) stowed

c)in contact with metal surface

d) heated and exposed to air

3. The worried harbour authorities forced the barge to:

a)make fast alongside

b) cast off

c)exhibit NUC shapes

d) stay adrift

4. The harbour authorities' act was careless because:

a)the barge didn't complete loading

b) the cargo was improperly stowed

c)the master and the crew were endangered

d) another ships were waiting for vacant berth

5. Dry cargo such as copra may be loaded during adverse weather if :

a)the LOI is issued

b) it is covered with tarpaulins

c)the Bill of Lading states that

d) the shipper agrees

Complete an incident report (see annex) covering the following items.

1. Description of the situation;

2. Direct causes, root causes of the incident;

3. Remedial actions and recommendations.

⇐ Предыдущая12131415161718192021Следующая ⇒

Поделиться: