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marinediesels.co.uk
Horror Stories
Index Page
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This section of the site is devoted to mishaps which have caused
damage to the main engine and related pieces of equipment. Some of the incidents
are more serious than others and in some cases have caused serious injuries and
even death.
Apart from the older really well known cases which due to the
seriousness of the event have led to a court of inquiry, no names of vessels or people are given, but it is hoped that
readers will learn from others mistakes.
Remember: Accidents don't just happen - they are caused!
CRANKCASE EXPLOSIONS
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Despite oil mist detectors, bearing
temperature monitors and explosion doors, severe crankcase explosions (usually
secondary) still occur, causing death and serious injury. Click
HERE to
find how a crankcase explosion occurs |
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In
1947 on board the ship "Reina del Pacifico", a crankcase explosion
cost
28 men their lives. This accident started the development of oil mist detectors. |
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A recent severe secondary explosion caused fire and
serious injury. Read about
it and decide what YOU would have done |
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A hole in a piston crown led
to this explosion and it was only because the engine room was unmanned at
the time, no one was injured or killed. |
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A piston pin failure
caused a primary explosion as the engine shut down. |
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A badly worn liner
and broken rings led to a crankcase explosion. |
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A piston seizure caused a crankcase explosion and a smashed
engine frame. |
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Two photographs of an
explosion on a testbed engine. |
AIR START EXPLOSIONS, COMPRESSOR
EQUIPMENT.
Do not underestimate the stored energy
in compressed air. Treated with respect and ensuring correct maintenance is
carried out to ALL the equipment and safety devices will reduce the risk of an
accident. Do NOT use compressed air for any other use other than with correctly
designed, properly maintained and certificated equipment.
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It happened
more than 40 years ago, killed 7 men, injured 7 more, and questions based on
preventing a repeat this most horrific of incidents still appear in MCA question
papers. |
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Two recent incidents involving compressor
aftercoolers bursting. A man was killed in one of these accidents both of
which were very similar. |
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He thought it was a clever idea. You know
differently........don't you?? |
ENGINE MISHAPS
Alarms are installed to warn the
operator that all is not well with the machinery. If an alarm sounds, then the
cause must be investigated and rectified. Do not use the excuse that "the
alarm is faulty" as the first reason for it sounding in the first place. As
well as alarms, the watchkeepers sense of hearing, smell and touch must be used
to diagnose faults. If an unusual noise is heard, do not ignore it; investigate
the cause.
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Leaving a small tool on the gear train led to a very expensive repair |
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A loose chain drive sprocket led to catastrophic
failure of the crankshaft |
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Loss of cooling water led to melted
components and a wrecked engine |
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Mixing the
bearing halves led to a unit smash. |
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Trying to
start an engine with a cylinder full of oil is an expensive mistake. |
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What's that a
tap tap tapping? Is death a-knocking at my
door? |
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Trapped in the Scavenge Space led to Death of Second Engineer |
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Loose erosion plugs in the fuel pump
led to two fires. One caused extensive damage, the other was
extinguished within a minute |
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A failed bottom end caused extensive
damage to the engine and bent the crankshaft. |
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Fatigue caused disintegration of the
piston skirt which led to the engine being smashed by the
flailing con rod. |
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Mistimed camshaft destroyed piston,
liner, cylinder head and turbocharger. |
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Explosions
and Fires in exhaust manifolds can wreck Turbochargers |
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Loose bottom
end bolt causes connecting rod to bend like a banana |
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Failure of
con rod smashes 2 stroke engine |
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A series of almost unbelievable events leads to wrecked engine |
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various
failures with this well known medium speed engine |
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L.O. SLIP - UPS
Ensure that the correct grade of of oil
is used at all times. Follow manufacturers instructions and recommendations.
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Using the
blow down from the LO filters as a cylinder lubricant didn't save money after
all. |
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A quick check saved two engines. Water
does not make a good lubricant in a crankcase. |
Do you know of an incident
which would be of interest to other Marine Engineers and could
help prevent further accidents?
email me the details.
 
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