Technical Circular No: 034/2025
1. This circular highlights the safety concerns arising from a fire incident reported on a ship in electrical engineer’s cabin. While the vessel was at anchorage, the Duty Officer on watch was alerted to the fire by the 2nd Engineer, following which the ship’s fire alarm system was promptly activated. The designated fire team was mobilized and successfully extinguished the fire. Subsequent hot‑spot checks confirmed complete suppression, and inspections of the surrounding spaces verified that no further hazards were present.
Later investigation findings indicated that the fire originated within the Electrical Engineer’s cabin, with the probable cause identified as a short circuit in the bedside electrical socket. The socket was in use for charging personal equipment through a universal extension adapter, which is considered the likely source of ignition.
2. The incident caused major damages to crew cabin and adjacent spaces including deck alleyways.
3. These incidents provide an opportunity to re-look at the Safe Working Practices followed on-board and Safety Management System implemented by the companies.
4. A few effective ways to prevent similar incidents in future could be:
a. Prohibiting the use of unauthorized electrical appliances and charging arrangements including the use of universal extension adapters and non-approved charging devices in cabins.
b. Updating accommodation safety protocols to include routine checks of electrical sockets and charging practices and enhancing inspection regimes during internal audits and superintendent visits, focusing on electrical safety in living quarters.
c. Review of procurement and supply policies to ensure only approved electrical equipment is provided and used onboard.
d. Ensuring that no unauthorized modifications / repairs are carried out onboard and any repairs carried out are only as establish safe practices including ensuring compliance to original specifications and/or as-fitted/approved drawings.
e. Early identification and elimination of defects in the electrical system and associated equipment and compliance verified during company internal inspection and audits.
f. Following Safe working practices at all times.
g. Circulate lessons learned from similar incidents and near misses across the fleet to strengthen awareness and prevent recurrence.
Owners & Managers are to take note of above in order that corrective actions can be taken to avoid similar situations in future.
Enclosure: NIL
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.