4.1 Many fires have been caused by pipe connections
and fittings working loose. The fuel, lubricating and hydraulic oil
pipes, their fittings, connections and securing arrangements should
be routinely checked. Care should be taken not to overtighten fittings
during these checks.
4.2 When maintenance or repair to the main or
auxiliary engines has been carried out checks should be made to ensure
that the insulation covering the heated surfaces has been properly
replaced. A regular check of the engines should be made to confirm
that the insulation is in place.
4.3 Any fuel, lubricating or hydraulic oil leakages
should be dealt with promptly. The screening arrangements and pipe
securing devices should be kept in good order.
4.4 Serious fires have originated because of a
failure to recognize potential hazards, such as burning oil running
out of furnace fronts onto the tank top, a spray of oil from a defective
gland, joint or a fractured pipe, in areas where these may not be
readily noticeable but may be easily ignited. It is essential to avoid
the dangerous situation in which a small fire could spread to waste
oil in the bilges or on tank tops where it could rapidly spread out
of control. Cleanliness is essential for safety and a high standard
of cleanliness should always be maintained.
4.5 Woodwork or other readily combustible materials
should not be used in boiler rooms and machinery spaces where oil
fuel is used. No combustible material should be stored near any part
of the oil installations. The use of bituminous or similar flammable
compounds should be kept to a minimum in machinery and boiler spaces.
4.6 When repairs, however, temporary, are carried
out to oil lines, special attention must be paid to fire risks. All
repairs, even temporary ones, should be adequate to prevent any danger
of leakage and should be to a standard which would endure exposure
to fire.
4.7 If there is a leakage of fuel, lubricating
or hydraulic oil the chances of preventing the outbreak of fire or
quickly extinguishing one which has started will be greatly improved
if all affected or adjacent machinery which may have heated surfaces,
including ancillaries, can be immediately shut down. The prevention
of further leakage will reduce the probability of fire or reduce the
intensity of one which has already started and may help to avoid permanent
disablement of the ship.