On January 4, 2025, a foreign-flagged cargo vessel in the Port of Mobile, Alabama, suffered a major engine room fire due to a high-pressure fuel leak from its SAACKE Monoblock Rotary Cup Burner SKVJ-M 14 Mark I system. The leak ignited atomized marine diesel oil on a hot exhaust stack, rapidly spreading flames through the vessel and causing significant damage, though no injuries were reported.
A marine casualty investigation revealed critical failures in the burner’s fuel system. Although the vessel’s fixed water mist suppression system activated automatically, it could not control the fire, which was ultimately extinguished by manually activating the CO2 suppression system. The Coast Guard identified two main causes: a pinched O-ring during assembly that compromised the seal’s integrity, and a software misconfiguration that kept fuel supply pumps energized after shutdown, leading to high-pressure fuel release.
In light of these findings, the Coast Guard recommends that operators of the SAACKE burner conduct regular inspections of the oil fittings block and ensure proper installation of safety components. Additionally, they should verify shutdown sequences and maintain comprehensive records of control system software to enhance safety measures and prevent similar incidents.
