American Club: Include thermal imaging to reduce fire risk
The American Club has published the latest installment of their Good Catch series, highlighting the importance of including the thermal imaging camera in your routine maintenance plan to reduce fire risk.
The engineers on a product tanker were doing routine maintenance in the engine room. They used a thermal imaging camera to check electrical connections in the switchboards and to look for exposed hot surfaces on the exhaust piping from the main engine and auxiliary generators.
They identified one electrical connection with a dangerously high temperature due to excessive soot buildup on a breaker. After thoroughly cleaning the soot, they rechecked the area using a thermal imaging camera, confirming that the temperatures had returned to safe levels.
The engineers also identified a significant gap in the lagging on the exhaust for one of the auxiliary generators. It appears that the lagging had slipped leaving exposed a wide section of hot exhaust piping. Once the engine had cooled, the engineers re-attached the lagging properly.
Potential damage
Damages caused by overheating electrical components in a switchboard could take several days to repair and result in repair costs exceeding $50,000. A fire caused by a fuel or oil leak igniting on the hot surface in the gap in the auxiliary generator exhaust lagging could have been potentially dangerous for the crew, and also very expensive to repair, and very time-consuming.
What went right?
- The vessel had a maintenance plan that included periodic checks using a thermal imaging camera.
- The thermal imaging camera was easy to use and available on the vessel.
- The crew was trained on how to use the thermal imaging camera and what to look for.
- Shoreside management was fully supportive of the use of the thermal imaging camera and actions to address any issues identified.
When you identify a hazard before something goes wrong… it’s a Good Catch.
When you stop an operation before something bad happens… it’s a Good Catch.
When a fire hazard is identified by the use of a thermal imaging camera and is corrected before a fire starts… that’s a Good Catch, too!
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