Valve Installation Error Caused Fatal Engine Compartment Fire, Report

A fatal engine compartment fire at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal in Laporte, Texas, on January 8, 2024, was attributed to the incorrect installation of a valve during routine maintenance, as determined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident caused one crew member’s death and serious injuries to another, with the fire igniting during bunker operations after crew members attempted to ventilate the engine compartment.

Investigation by the NTSB revealed that an angle stop test valve was mistakenly installed instead of the specified angle stop valve in the port Double Bottom Diesel oil (DBDO) tank six weeks prior to the accident. This installation error led to a series of events during bunker operations where diesel oil was diverted to the wrong tank due to an incorrect valve, subsequently causing fuel to escape through a previously sealed section in the ventilation tube and triggering the fatal fire.

The NTSB emphasized the importance of correct component selection in maritime systems and highlighted procedural violations that contributed to the accident. Recommendations were made to ensure proper personnel levels during bunker operations and to use tank level monitoring to prevent overflow situations. This incident serves as a reminder of how seemingly minor maintenance decisions and procedural oversights can have catastrophic consequences in maritime operations, resulting in significant losses such as the $12 million loss of the vessel involved in this incident, the "Walk."

For more details, the complete NTSB report on the incident can be found here.

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