BIMCO Warns Delayed Repairs Raise Engine-Room Fire Risk on Ships
Shipping association BIMCO has warned that known defects, poor maintenance and slow corrective action are exposing ships to serious engine-room fires. The warning came after a meeting of its Tanker Safety Network on 29 October. The issue affects ships trading worldwide rather than any one port or sea area.
The discussion drew on an analysis by insurer Gard of hull and machinery fire and explosion claims from 2017 to 2024. Nearly 60% of these fires started in engine rooms, and about two-thirds of the engine-room fires involved main or auxiliary engines or their parts, such as turbochargers.
Members reviewed three real cases. In the first, a pressure transmitter fitting with the wrong thread failed and sprayed fuel onto a turbocharger that was missing its insulation. In the second, crew spotted a hydraulic oil leak hours before a fire, but the repair was put off until the ship reached anchorage, and the fire broke out at sea. In the third, a burnt-out contactor was found after an auxiliary blower alarm, with worn contacts and loose connections among the likely causes.
Participants said repairs are often delayed because of spare-part shortages, too little time in port, limited support for less experienced engineers and pressure to reach the next port on schedule. AI-assisted cameras and monitoring can give earlier warning, but only if alarms are followed by proper watchkeeping and action.
For engineers, the message is that small leaks, missing lagging and loose connections should be reported and fixed promptly. Companies that back their crews with spares, time and shore support help prevent a minor defect from becoming a fire.
