FREYJA SW 8

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BSU published investigation report into fire

The German Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) published an incident report on the fire in the engine compartment on the 'Freyja' in the evening of Sep 17, 2021, which resulted in the destruction of most of the fishing vessel. The fire-induced foundering of the vessel made it impossible to identify usable evidence of the cause of the fire or the exact starting point of its development during the investigation of the wrecked parts. The statements of the crew merely permitted the conclusion that the fire broke out inside the engine compartment. Possible causes included battery problems (excessive release of explosive oxyhydrogen gas into the atmosphere of the warm and poorly ventilated engine compartment), contact of lubricant or fuel with hot surfaces, defective insulation of heat-conducting engine components or even a short circuit in the electrical cabling. In particular, the fact that cabling, conventionally encased in plastic, ran inside the bilge of the vessel with no special additional protection was a risk factor. It could not be ruled out that there has been an undetected degradation of the layers of insulation over the years, subsequently leading to a short circuit that caused the fire. The bleak condition of the wreck of the 'Freyja' did not permit any reliable conclusions as to the actual cause of the fire. Report: https://safety4sea.com/bsu-investigation-fire-in-the-engine-compartment-of-a-vessel/