- Jul 1, 2018
- 1,601
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1500hours
"Machinery Breakdown, Machinery Breakdown, Machinery Breakdown. CEO, SEO, Duty Engineer report to the MCR. Machinery Breakdown." The voice was that of Sergey Vinogradov, the duty motorman who was manning the MCR at the time of the incident.
The Duty Engineer, Third Mate Vilen Kuznetsov, was the first to arrive in the MCR a few moments after the pipe. Afterall he was meant to be manning the MCR but had just went on a break to the toilet.
"What's going on?" he asks Motorman Vinogradov.
Sergey barely looked up from the screen he was flicking through, already looking for solutions. "I dont know exactly, but it looks like we've lost suction on the starboard engine fuel pump."
"Alright, go get it checked out. I've got the MCR." Vilen replies, and Sergey stands up from his seat - which is instantly filled by the Third Mate. As Sergey is leaving the MCR, the Chief Engineer and Systems Engineer arrive in the MCR, Sergey greets them on the way out. "Chiefs" he gives them a nod, before continuing on his way.
Third Made Kuznetsov filled the Chiefs in on what was happening as Sergey made his way down towards the engine room. At the entrance of the engineer room, he donned his ear defenders and grabbed a radio. Turning it on and speaking into it. "MCR, Engine room. Comms check"
Chief Engineer Ipati Orlov picked up the radio, speaking into it. "Loud and clear, how me?"
"Loud and Clear." Segrey responded, before opening the door and heading into the engine room. There was a sense of calm amongst all the men involved and machinery breakdowns were usually not a major issue and could be fixed quite quickly and efficiently.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1510hours
Sergey had made his way through the engine room and was just opening the door to the pump room. The door only cracked open a few inches and that was enough for him to see what was going on. Although he could barely hear his own voice, he picked up the radio and began shouting into it. "Fire Danger, Fire Danger, Fire Danger. Fire Danger in the pump room!". That was all that was needed. Sergrey ran to pick up the nearest AFFF extinguisher and began laying down a foam blanket on what he had saw.
What Sergey had saw was a disaster, the feed pipe for the fuel had burst and diesel was spraying and leaking all over the pump room. In this time, Engineer Vilen had already began making a pipe. "Fire Danger, Fire Danger, Fire Danger. Ship's Emergency Party to the MCR. Fire Danger." After the pipe, Enginner Vilen jumped from his seat and moved to the shutdown panel on the console. Shutting off the fuel the fuel pump to slow the flow of diesel.
So far, it was not a full emergency situation as Motorman Vinogradov currently had the situation under control by placing down a full blanket.
Within a few minutes, the SEP consiting of the Donkeyman, whos name was Yuri Shvets, two deck ratings named Sergey Maksimov and Yevgeni Morozov and the ships assistant cook Innokentiy Kovalev. Sergey Maksimov and Innokentiy Kovalev had alread donned their breathing apparatus and anti flash gear - both were carrying AFFF extinguishers. Yevgeni Morozoc was carrying the BA board with times and cylinder pressure of the breathing apparatus and Donkeyman Shvets was carrying the SEP response bag which had Temperature Gauges, damage control wedges, hammers and mallets etc.
Third Mate Kuznetsov handed over the MCR control to the Chief Engineer as he bagan to escort the SEP team to the engine room. Taking his time to make sure they are all accounted for on the peg board and there is sufficient communication between all members involved.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1510hours
At the same time on the bridge, Captain Dimitri Ignatiev had arrived after coming from his cabin at the sound of the pipes. He checked the cameras and the engineering computers that are linked to the bridge and sighed a little. Looking over to the Officer of the Watch and AB over the other side of the bridge.
"Here's me thinking we're going to have an easy night."
The OOW, Second Mate Nikodim Rasputin and the AB Avksentiy Popov laughed, before continuing on with their jobs on the bridge, at the moment there was no concern as the procedures were in place to deal with what was going on.
Captain Ignatiev picked up VHF radio that was tuned into channel 16. He began speaking into it in English. "Sécruite, Sécruite, Sécruite. All stations, All stations, All stations. This is MV Palflot, Palflot, Palflot. Sécurite. MV Palflot, Callsign PSVR, MMSI Two-Seven-Three-Four-Five-Five-Two-Two-Zero. In position Fifty-Two degrees, Zero-Zero-decimel-Two-Five North. Two Degrees, Zero-Five-decimel-One-Two East. We have a loss of propulsion and are drifting. Advise keep clear of my position. Out."
He placed the radio down, looking out towards the ocean infront of him.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1514hours
The SEP team arrived at the fuel pump room, motorman Vinogradov was still laying a foam blanket down, having had to grab multiple AFFF extinguishers to do so. At his feet lay atleast four empty extinguishers and he had another in his hands. As the two members of the SEP in BA approached him, he began his handover of what the exact situation was, and the response he had given so far. "Fuel leak from the feed pipe, I won't even be able to get close enough to examine it until the flow stops completely. I've been laying down a foam blanket for the time being."
Kovalev took over the from Vinogradov in laying a foam blanket down, whilst Segrey Maksimov placed his extinguisher close to Kovalev and moved to the nearest 25mm Nominal Bore hose and began unreeling it, he charged the hose as soon as he could and placed it in foam mode. Placing the spill pickup inside the tub of AFF mix.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1515hours
It was too late. All that was saw was a bright flash and all that was heard was a deafening crack. The whole ship shook, the men inside the engine room were all taken out by the flash. The heat of the pump room combined with the vaporising fumes from the diesel had proved to be deadly. Although everything had been done right, and the response was quick. Too much fuel had spilled out from the feed line for them to combat it effectively.
Chief Engineer Ipati Orlov had been watching the camera feed from the MCR when the explosion happened. He was rocked by the shaking of the ship but quickly gained composure to look back at the cameras, only to see and the pump room engulfed in flames and bodies by the doorway. The automatic smoke detectors had already set off an alarm, however he made an immediate response by picking up the pipe. "Fire, Fire, Fire. Fire in the fuel pump room. Hands muster at Emergency Stations." he pressed the fire alarm which screamed around the ship, however he interupted the alarm with an immediate follow up pipe. "Casualty, Casualty, Casualty. Casualty in the fuel pump room. Medical team to the MCR"
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1519hours
It took four minutes for the ship to be fully mustered, with the obvious exception of the medical team which rather than being mustered at the ships hospital, had mustered in the MCR instead.
The Captain and Third Made Fyodorov had taken over on the bridge whilst other officers went to their emergency stations. Captain Ignatiev immediately picked up the phone and rang the engine room and Chief Orlov picked up. "MCR." the chief opened up with.
"MCR, Bridge. What's going on down there?"
"I'm not 100% certain at the moment Captain, it looks like the fuel pump room has suffered an explosion. Not sure what the extent of damage or casualties are yet. We'll know more when the fire team heads down"
"Thank you Chief"
He placed the phone down, taking a seat in his chair.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1521hours
A pipe came over the ship. "ER1 is now fully manned. Fire main pressure, 10 bar". This pipe came from the MCR, which had since became ER1 or Emergency Room One. The control room for emergencies which was now full of officers taking up their roles for command of the response.
After a few minutes, the fire team was dressed and word was passed to ER1. The fire team was made up of five crew members. All dressed in full bunker gear and was making their way down to the engine room, via ER1.
In the five man team, each member had a role. There was the figher fighter and waterwall, the team leader and the two hose handlers. It was the waterwalls job to use the wide nozzle and create a disc of water to protect the team from flash overs and the figher fighters job to use the foam hose and attack the fire.
They were through ER1 and in the engine room within minutes and could begin assessing the scene. They quickly got to work unravelling the hoses and fixing them to the hydrants, the waterwall took his position with the team leader backing him up and immediately turned his nozzle on, creating a 6 meter disc of water between the both the fire team and casualties and the fires. The fire fighter took a knee next to the two others and waited for word to start attacking the fire.
The hose handlers, now that the hydrants were attached and on, began dragging the casualties to a more safer location, to allowed the medical team to head down. They made quick assessments are they moved the casualties.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1524hours
The order had been given for the firefighter to start attacking the fires, he turned the nozzle on his hose and began spraying water onto the deckhead inside the pumproom and the medical team had made their way down into the engine room with neil robertson stretchers to extract the casualties.
As the casualties were brought to the ships hospital, the primary first aider took control and began making indept assessments of the injured crew and was able to quickly determine the extent. Donkeyman Yuri Shvets and Motorman Sergey Vinogradov were both dead and the others had recieved fatal injuries. This information was relayed up to the captain on the bridge.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1525hours
The Captain, after recieving the word from the hospital, now had no choice. He picked up the radio that was tuned into channel One-Six and began speaking into it.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. All stations, All stations, All stations. This is MV Palflot, Palflot, Palflot. Callsign Papa-Sierra-Victor-Romeo, Papa-Sierra-Victor-Romeo, MMSI Two-Seven-Three-Four-Five-Five-Two-Two-Zero. Mayday, this is Motor Vessel Palflot. We have suffered an explosion, in position Fifty-Two degrees, Zero-Zero-decimel-Two-Five North. Two Degrees, Zero-Five-decimel-One-Two East. We have three-two crew members onboard. We require immediate assistance. Mayday, Motor Vessel Palflot"
Time: 1500hours
"Machinery Breakdown, Machinery Breakdown, Machinery Breakdown. CEO, SEO, Duty Engineer report to the MCR. Machinery Breakdown." The voice was that of Sergey Vinogradov, the duty motorman who was manning the MCR at the time of the incident.
The Duty Engineer, Third Mate Vilen Kuznetsov, was the first to arrive in the MCR a few moments after the pipe. Afterall he was meant to be manning the MCR but had just went on a break to the toilet.
"What's going on?" he asks Motorman Vinogradov.
Sergey barely looked up from the screen he was flicking through, already looking for solutions. "I dont know exactly, but it looks like we've lost suction on the starboard engine fuel pump."
"Alright, go get it checked out. I've got the MCR." Vilen replies, and Sergey stands up from his seat - which is instantly filled by the Third Mate. As Sergey is leaving the MCR, the Chief Engineer and Systems Engineer arrive in the MCR, Sergey greets them on the way out. "Chiefs" he gives them a nod, before continuing on his way.
Third Made Kuznetsov filled the Chiefs in on what was happening as Sergey made his way down towards the engine room. At the entrance of the engineer room, he donned his ear defenders and grabbed a radio. Turning it on and speaking into it. "MCR, Engine room. Comms check"
Chief Engineer Ipati Orlov picked up the radio, speaking into it. "Loud and clear, how me?"
"Loud and Clear." Segrey responded, before opening the door and heading into the engine room. There was a sense of calm amongst all the men involved and machinery breakdowns were usually not a major issue and could be fixed quite quickly and efficiently.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1510hours
Sergey had made his way through the engine room and was just opening the door to the pump room. The door only cracked open a few inches and that was enough for him to see what was going on. Although he could barely hear his own voice, he picked up the radio and began shouting into it. "Fire Danger, Fire Danger, Fire Danger. Fire Danger in the pump room!". That was all that was needed. Sergrey ran to pick up the nearest AFFF extinguisher and began laying down a foam blanket on what he had saw.
What Sergey had saw was a disaster, the feed pipe for the fuel had burst and diesel was spraying and leaking all over the pump room. In this time, Engineer Vilen had already began making a pipe. "Fire Danger, Fire Danger, Fire Danger. Ship's Emergency Party to the MCR. Fire Danger." After the pipe, Enginner Vilen jumped from his seat and moved to the shutdown panel on the console. Shutting off the fuel the fuel pump to slow the flow of diesel.
So far, it was not a full emergency situation as Motorman Vinogradov currently had the situation under control by placing down a full blanket.
Within a few minutes, the SEP consiting of the Donkeyman, whos name was Yuri Shvets, two deck ratings named Sergey Maksimov and Yevgeni Morozov and the ships assistant cook Innokentiy Kovalev. Sergey Maksimov and Innokentiy Kovalev had alread donned their breathing apparatus and anti flash gear - both were carrying AFFF extinguishers. Yevgeni Morozoc was carrying the BA board with times and cylinder pressure of the breathing apparatus and Donkeyman Shvets was carrying the SEP response bag which had Temperature Gauges, damage control wedges, hammers and mallets etc.
Third Mate Kuznetsov handed over the MCR control to the Chief Engineer as he bagan to escort the SEP team to the engine room. Taking his time to make sure they are all accounted for on the peg board and there is sufficient communication between all members involved.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1510hours
At the same time on the bridge, Captain Dimitri Ignatiev had arrived after coming from his cabin at the sound of the pipes. He checked the cameras and the engineering computers that are linked to the bridge and sighed a little. Looking over to the Officer of the Watch and AB over the other side of the bridge.
"Here's me thinking we're going to have an easy night."
The OOW, Second Mate Nikodim Rasputin and the AB Avksentiy Popov laughed, before continuing on with their jobs on the bridge, at the moment there was no concern as the procedures were in place to deal with what was going on.
Captain Ignatiev picked up VHF radio that was tuned into channel 16. He began speaking into it in English. "Sécruite, Sécruite, Sécruite. All stations, All stations, All stations. This is MV Palflot, Palflot, Palflot. Sécurite. MV Palflot, Callsign PSVR, MMSI Two-Seven-Three-Four-Five-Five-Two-Two-Zero. In position Fifty-Two degrees, Zero-Zero-decimel-Two-Five North. Two Degrees, Zero-Five-decimel-One-Two East. We have a loss of propulsion and are drifting. Advise keep clear of my position. Out."
He placed the radio down, looking out towards the ocean infront of him.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1514hours
The SEP team arrived at the fuel pump room, motorman Vinogradov was still laying a foam blanket down, having had to grab multiple AFFF extinguishers to do so. At his feet lay atleast four empty extinguishers and he had another in his hands. As the two members of the SEP in BA approached him, he began his handover of what the exact situation was, and the response he had given so far. "Fuel leak from the feed pipe, I won't even be able to get close enough to examine it until the flow stops completely. I've been laying down a foam blanket for the time being."
Kovalev took over the from Vinogradov in laying a foam blanket down, whilst Segrey Maksimov placed his extinguisher close to Kovalev and moved to the nearest 25mm Nominal Bore hose and began unreeling it, he charged the hose as soon as he could and placed it in foam mode. Placing the spill pickup inside the tub of AFF mix.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1515hours
It was too late. All that was saw was a bright flash and all that was heard was a deafening crack. The whole ship shook, the men inside the engine room were all taken out by the flash. The heat of the pump room combined with the vaporising fumes from the diesel had proved to be deadly. Although everything had been done right, and the response was quick. Too much fuel had spilled out from the feed line for them to combat it effectively.
Chief Engineer Ipati Orlov had been watching the camera feed from the MCR when the explosion happened. He was rocked by the shaking of the ship but quickly gained composure to look back at the cameras, only to see and the pump room engulfed in flames and bodies by the doorway. The automatic smoke detectors had already set off an alarm, however he made an immediate response by picking up the pipe. "Fire, Fire, Fire. Fire in the fuel pump room. Hands muster at Emergency Stations." he pressed the fire alarm which screamed around the ship, however he interupted the alarm with an immediate follow up pipe. "Casualty, Casualty, Casualty. Casualty in the fuel pump room. Medical team to the MCR"
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1519hours
It took four minutes for the ship to be fully mustered, with the obvious exception of the medical team which rather than being mustered at the ships hospital, had mustered in the MCR instead.
The Captain and Third Made Fyodorov had taken over on the bridge whilst other officers went to their emergency stations. Captain Ignatiev immediately picked up the phone and rang the engine room and Chief Orlov picked up. "MCR." the chief opened up with.
"MCR, Bridge. What's going on down there?"
"I'm not 100% certain at the moment Captain, it looks like the fuel pump room has suffered an explosion. Not sure what the extent of damage or casualties are yet. We'll know more when the fire team heads down"
"Thank you Chief"
He placed the phone down, taking a seat in his chair.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1521hours
A pipe came over the ship. "ER1 is now fully manned. Fire main pressure, 10 bar". This pipe came from the MCR, which had since became ER1 or Emergency Room One. The control room for emergencies which was now full of officers taking up their roles for command of the response.
After a few minutes, the fire team was dressed and word was passed to ER1. The fire team was made up of five crew members. All dressed in full bunker gear and was making their way down to the engine room, via ER1.
In the five man team, each member had a role. There was the figher fighter and waterwall, the team leader and the two hose handlers. It was the waterwalls job to use the wide nozzle and create a disc of water to protect the team from flash overs and the figher fighters job to use the foam hose and attack the fire.
They were through ER1 and in the engine room within minutes and could begin assessing the scene. They quickly got to work unravelling the hoses and fixing them to the hydrants, the waterwall took his position with the team leader backing him up and immediately turned his nozzle on, creating a 6 meter disc of water between the both the fire team and casualties and the fires. The fire fighter took a knee next to the two others and waited for word to start attacking the fire.
The hose handlers, now that the hydrants were attached and on, began dragging the casualties to a more safer location, to allowed the medical team to head down. They made quick assessments are they moved the casualties.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1524hours
The order had been given for the firefighter to start attacking the fires, he turned the nozzle on his hose and began spraying water onto the deckhead inside the pumproom and the medical team had made their way down into the engine room with neil robertson stretchers to extract the casualties.
As the casualties were brought to the ships hospital, the primary first aider took control and began making indept assessments of the injured crew and was able to quickly determine the extent. Donkeyman Yuri Shvets and Motorman Sergey Vinogradov were both dead and the others had recieved fatal injuries. This information was relayed up to the captain on the bridge.
Location: 52.007007, 2.086869, 50km off the coast of Felixstowe, UK
Time: 1525hours
The Captain, after recieving the word from the hospital, now had no choice. He picked up the radio that was tuned into channel One-Six and began speaking into it.
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. All stations, All stations, All stations. This is MV Palflot, Palflot, Palflot. Callsign Papa-Sierra-Victor-Romeo, Papa-Sierra-Victor-Romeo, MMSI Two-Seven-Three-Four-Five-Five-Two-Two-Zero. Mayday, this is Motor Vessel Palflot. We have suffered an explosion, in position Fifty-Two degrees, Zero-Zero-decimel-Two-Five North. Two Degrees, Zero-Five-decimel-One-Two East. We have three-two crew members onboard. We require immediate assistance. Mayday, Motor Vessel Palflot"
