An accident investigation has blamed the faulty reinstallation of engine components following inspection work for an October 2015 fire on a German-owned containership.
The cause of the accident on the 1,404-teu Thetis D (built 2009) has been the subject of a long-running probe by Germany’s Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) that has taken more than two years to reach its conclusions.
The ship, owned by Cuxhaven-based Drevin Bereederungs, was heading for Bremerhaven from Poland when a fire broke out in the main engine just off the Kiel Lighthouse.
Accident investigators found “considerable damage” to the MAN B&W medium-speed main engine. The maintenance cover and engine casing had been “blasted off”, the BSU report said. One cylinder had been destroyed in the initial explosion and leaking lubricating oil had caused the subsequent fire, it added.
Investigators traced the cause of the fire to a faulty installation following the inspection of a connecting rod bearing in the main engine, which took place some seven months before the accident.
“The connecting rod bearing bolts were tightened neither using the manufacturers recommended method nor with the necessary pressure. This led to increased connecting rod bearing clearance, which ultimately caused piston seizure and the ensuing destruction of cylinder 7’s drive unit,” the BSU concluded.
It added that it was lucky that injuries to crew were avoided.
“That nobody was in the vicinity of the main engine when the drive unit burst open is thanks only to fortuitous circumstances,” the BSU said.
The BSU also said it believes the engine problems could have been identified before the fire broke out. It said that its expert is “convinced that there must have been indications” of a fault. However, this has been denied by engineers on the Thetis D.
The BSU has recommended to Drevin Bereederungs that it take measures to make sure qualified engine-room personnel prepare for, carry out and record maintenance and servicing on key components in the main engine.
