western area training - ife.org.uk directory/mv... · the contaminated water was put in number 4...
TRANSCRIPT
Learning Objectives
At the end of the session the student will be able to: -
• Detail the main hazards at a tanker incident.
• List the benefits of using foam in a pump room fire.
• Identify the improvements made to firefighters kit as
a result of this incident.
The MV Pointsman was a 4,600 gross ton Coastal
Product Tanker.
The vessel had discharged its last cargo of 4,400 tons
of diesel oil and was at Milford for some repair work.
On route to Milford, the ship’s cargo tanks had been
cleaned and rendered gas free by forced ventilation.
The contaminated water was put in number 4 centre
tank and the pump room cargo lines drained into the
pump room slop tank.
The slop tank was emptied using a portable pump
which necessitated removing a bolted cover on the
access manway .
Slop Tank
Only four of twenty
bolts replaced
The crew reported that the hatch cover and gasket
had been re-secured.
The pump room was washed using hand held hoses and
gas freed by means of the Golar fan.
On arrival at Milford the Captain arranged for repairs to two
valves in the pump room.
A representative chemist attended the ship and issued the
gas free permits for various areas including the pump
room.
The Captain ordered the gas freeing of a tank using the
Golar fan, and this was left running.
1330 hours two dockyard workers arrived and prepared
to start work.
At 1430 hours an explosion occurred in the pump room.
The ships Chief Officer who was only aware of the two
crew members working in there attempted a rescue.
The Fire Brigade was called at 1435 hours and the PDA of
two pumps and an officer was dispatched.
The first pump arrived at 1438 and after hearing that
casualties were in the pump room the Leading Firefighter
committed a team of two BA wearers.
An assistance message was then sent requesting an
additional pump and an Emergency Tender.
The second pump arrived four minutes later together with
a Station Manager who made pumps five. A Group
Manager en route requested the attendance of foam
carriers and other specialist appliances.
On the second pumps arrival, a further two BA wearers
were committed into the pump room.
The first team had located a casualty two levels down and
assisted by the second team they manhandled him out.
During these initial
minutes of the
incident thick smoke
was being forced out
of the pump room
door,this was made
worse by the Golar
fan that was still
running.
The Captain decided
to switch the fan off.
Golar Fan
A few seconds later at 1454 hours just as the first casualty
had been passed out of the pump room and a third BA team
had entered, a second explosion inside the pump room
occurred.
The six BA wearers who were distributed between all three
levels of the pump room were seriously injured and severely
burned, as were two other brigade officers and two
ambulance officers treating a casualty.
Despite their injuries all the BA wearers managed to assist one
another or climb unaided to the main deck level and out into
open air.
MV POINTSMAN
PUMP ROOM LAYOUT
VALVE WHEEL
(ONE ONLY
ILLUSTRATED)
GOLAR
FAN DUCT
VENT
PIPE
CARGO PUMP
(ONE ONLY
ILLUSTRATED)CARGO LINE
TO TANKS
DRAIN VALVE
MANWAY
COVERSLOP TANK
MAIN DECK
LEVEL
VALVE WHEEL
PLATFORM
LEVEL
WALKWAY LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL
The Pointsman injuries
played a major part in
improving all firefighters
kit:-
Flash Hoods
Longer Tunics
Fireproof Leggings
Fire Gloves