Fire on board

[John Arton]

This is a report on how not to fight a fire on board.
Dumbo's that are sailing these days eh!
http://maritimeaccident.org/2014/07/...f-fire-wisdom/
rgds
JA
p.s.
Anyone see the videos of the interior of the Costa Concordia recently released by the Italian coastguards, eerie!!!!!!

[robpage]

I have had the misfortune to have been in three shipboard fires , one quite serious . The training built in to you as experience is crucial , I am not convinced modern crew size has the capability to fight a blaze , and I honestly don't think the modern international crews have the training and experiences that British crews of days gone by have . My only experience of an Asian crew ( Bangladeshi or East Pakistan as it was then ) was when a wise sensible old Man had a brain Storm and moved the fire drill from 09:30 Saturday morning to getting the mate to set off a smoke flare in a mast house on a Wednesday five minutes after Smoko . The Sarang ( Bosun ) saw the smoke and alerted the bridge , by yelling , he took n extinguisher and extinguished the flare , the dry powder was all over the DC contactors for the winches , but the man acted bravely and did well; After it Was out , the alarm was stopped , and the crisis over someone looked to the lifeboats , the crew were chucking suitcases and cardboard boxes in . We had a lot more surprise fire drills that trip !!! A Lot MORE !!!!

[vic mcclymont]

Like you Rob, during my time at sea on the Clan Ranald we had a few fires and emergencies, the Zulu crew were nowhere to be seen.

[robpage]

I only sailed with Zulus once , they were harder working than the Bangladeshi's in general , but had a drinking habit that the Bangladeshi's did not , and I for one was concerned as they were aggressive when well oiled , I think it was either the Kinnard Castle or the Clan Alpine , I cannot be sure

[vic mcclymont]

Yes they were hard working when sober.
We used to show the movie on deck on a Saturday, weather permitting.
On one trip on the first Saturday out of the UK with a fresh box of films, the weather wasn't to bad, at night it was rubbish. So the deck show was postponed, crew were informed that the fil would be shown to them Sunday evening. They were desperate to know what the film was, we wouldn't tell them. Usual question, James Bond, Cowboy etc. We kept stum.
Came Sunday night the cadets were dispatched with the projector to the crew room, crew still didn't know the name of the picture, cadets still wouldn't tell them.
All of a sudden there were loud chants singing and the beating of sticks etc. The film was ZULU.
On the Monday the weather was good, crew viewed the film again and for the next three of four days, the film was accompanied with the usual chants and singing. After the third or fourth viewing the Mate banned them seeing the film to the homeward voyage. His reason was that the Zulu's were getting very excited..

[robpage]

My lasting memory was in Smiths North Shields , I dry docked there on several ships that is why I cannot remember which one exactly , I was in the Jungle on a Friday night , and it was crowded , apparently I nudged a local hard case who was demanding that despite him spilling a half inch of beer , wanted a fresh full pint replacement . It was getting a bit scary , until the Engineroom storekeeper at six foot four was behind him , and asked , you having trouble boss ? I was not from then on , he as very muscular , and the locall hard case bought us both a pint and apologised for his mistake . The Ship must have been the Clan Alpine i remember te J G Kincaid B&W main Engine , the store-man had sorted out a cross threaded cross-head nut with a big hammer and chisel , and they were bloody big nuts

[vic mcclymont]

Yes the Zulu's were like rakes, but incredibly strong for their stature

[robpage]

That reminded me that we had a EAR&H Engineering Cadet on board that the Store man hated and ignored , in fact blanked . I asked Willbard to ask the Storeman for something , and he ignored him , I went to Tiny the storeman , and asked what the problem was , He looked at Willbard , and said , I take no orders from any Brown African Kikuyu . I said what is the problem you are both black ? , I was told , The Zulu is Black like night , the Kikuyu is brown like my sh-t . I asked for the part and walked away , unusually speechless

[vic mcclymont]

We docked in Cardiff one trip, and left for a ten leave. Roddy the Fourth Engineer and the Chief elected to stay onboard.
Apparently within hours of docking, the fire alarm sounded, Zone 4, the alternator flat. Roddy was on the tops, when the alarm sounded and he spotted a guy in a suit lounging over the upper rails, he shouted to him to get his erse down here.
One of the R.R's alternators was on fire, Roddy had pulled a large mobile fire extinguisher into place and started to discharge the contents on to the fire. He was so engrossed in what he was doing, he was unaware anyone was behind him until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Roddy, spun round fire extinguisher nozzle in his hand and covered the guy in the suit with foam. Suit wasn't impressed and started bollock Roddy, until the Chief arrived and bollocked the said guy for disturbing Roddy.
Turned out the guy in the suit was the Super from London, and had to travel back in his stained suit.
When were told the story we p***ed ourselves laughing.

[robpage]

That is one of the two main reasons I disliked the RR D8 1800 rpm alternators , that and the habit of throwing the con-rods out of the crankcase whilst running .