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Report: Electrical fault caused flames

The failure of an incorrectly-fitted electrical solenoid valve led to a brief propagation of flame from the gas combustion unit’s vent stack of the 'Suiso Frontier', an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation has found. The liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier, built as a prototype ship to assess the technical aspects of transporting LH2 by sea, had arrived at the Port of Hastings, Victoria on Jan 20, 2022, on its maiden voyage. The ship had departed Kobe, Japan on 25 December 2021 with 55 t of LH2, and was to load additional LH2 from the gas liquefaction facility at Hastings before returning to Kobe. After LH2 had been loaded at Hastings on Jan 24, the ship was still berthed on the evening of Jan 25, when the gas control equipment malfunction occurred. A worker onboard the ship observed a yellow gas flame briefly propagate from the gas combustion unit’s vent stack on the ship’s deck. There was no subsequent fire or explosion, and no injuries or damage were reported. Excessive temperatures in the unit had resulted after an incorrectly-fitted electrical solenoid valve failed, closing the air supply damper to which it was attached; The unit’s control system was not equipped to detect a damper closing during operation, and automated safety controls meant to detect the abnormality were not effective.

Investigation into fire in Hastings launched

An investigation was under way into a fire aboard the 'Suiso Frontier' on Jan 25, 2022, at 10.45 p.m. less than one day after arriving at Hastings. A flame was spotted from the exhaust of a gas combustion unit on the ship’s deck after the ship had been loaded with a cargo of liquefied hydrogen. The fire was classed as a “serious incident” by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). The ATSB expects its investigation into the fire to be completed sometime after June. The initial report on the bureau’s website states that the combustion unit was “immediately shutdown after the flame was seen, and isolated before the crew implemented the fire prevention response plan”. No further abnormalities were reported and there were no injuries, damage or pollution. As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview relevant persons and obtain other evidence, including recorded data.