Control
Thermography
Thermal imaging used to detect abnormal asset conditions or locate heat sources during emergency response.
Documents
- 202621 Jul
Bio-Lab Inc. Conyers Fire and Chemical Release
Investigation of the Conyers chemical-storage warehouse fire and release examines sprinkler corrosion, water-triggered decomposition and emergency response. It identifies sprinkler component failure as the most likely initiating water source, analyses storage and ventilation shortcomings, and recommends corporate safeguards and broader reactive-hazard coverage. Supporting work includes AcciMap analysis and chemical testing.
- 202631 Mar
Offshore Inspection Guide Electrical Power Systems
An inspection guide for assessing electrical power systems and duty holder compliance. It addresses generation, distribution, protection, portable equipment and safe electrical work, with condition-monitoring methods including partial-discharge analysis, thermography and insulating-oil assessment. Performance scoring supports regulatory intervention planning; ATEX equipment is excluded.
- 202412 Dec
Engine room fire on board ro-ro passenger ferry Stena Europe
Investigation of Stena Europe’s engine room fire while approaching Fishguard. Pressurised fuel escaped from a flange joint and ignited on exposed exhaust surfaces. The report examines recurring leaks, incomplete flange modifications, deficient insulation, maintenance and reporting weaknesses, firefighting response, and thermal imaging for detecting hazardous hot spots.
- 202314 Dec
BSEE Safety Alert 478 - Inadequately Maintained Electrical Connections and Compromised Wiring Integrity (6)
This alert examines three electrical incidents involving a loose generator cable connection, damaged heat-trace insulation with improper grounding, and rainwater ingress into generator wiring. It recommends that operators consider routine maintenance, training, emergency-response rehearsals, improved cable procedures, lockout/tagout reinforcement and periodic infrared inspections.
- 20239 Nov
Flooding and partial sinking of an inflatable migrant boat with at least 27 lives lost
Investigation into an inflatable migrant boat’s flooding and partial sinking in the Dover Strait, with at least 27 deaths. Examines emergency-call reconciliation, coastguard staffing, cross-border coordination, helicopter and cutter searches, thermal detection limitations and forensic drift modelling. The initial water-ingress cause and exact casualty location remained undetermined.
- 202317 Aug
Engine room fire on LPG carrier Moritz Schulte with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal engine-room fire aboard Moritz Schulte in Antwerp. Pressurised marine gas oil escaped during inadequately isolated fuel-filter cleaning and ignited on an adjacent engine’s hot exhaust. The report examines maintenance arrangements, competence assurance, escape equipment and rescue coordination, including thermal imaging. No recommendations were made following actions already taken.
- 20235 Jul
Lack of Uninterruptible Power Supply
Three offshore production incidents illustrate uninterruptible power supply failures affecting emergency power, communications and process controls. The alert examines capacitor damage, battery overcharging, inadequate maintenance instructions and outdated drawings. It recommends operators consider maintenance and testing programmes, thermal scanning, redundancy and emergency response arrangements for power loss.
- 202228 Jan
Engine room fire on a ferry
This flash examines a ferry engine-room fire involving thermal oil circulation pump bearing failures and ineffective water-mist suppression. It describes loss of power and propulsion, successful CO2 extinguishment, and lessons on emergency supplies, contingency planning, management of change, thermal imaging and the risk of reignition after re-entry.
- 20219 Feb
Electrical Fire Damages Equipment in Motor Control Center
An offshore platform motor control centre fire followed circuit-breaker engagement. Analysis identified loose or damaged bus-bar fasteners, damaged insulation and dust that likely caused an arc. BSEE recommends considering inspection and maintenance procedures, thermography, insulation-resistance and polarisation-index testing, torque checks and component replacement schedules.
- 20154 Nov
Risks associated with electric storage batteries
Following a production-facility battery-room fire without injuries, this alert examines thermal runaway, hydrogen explosions, short-circuit energy release and electric shock. It outlines battery installation and maintenance measures, ventilation, fire protection, load testing and consideration of thermography, alongside replacement planning and emergency response arrangements.
- 20157 Oct
Fire on board ro-ro passenger ferry Dieppe Seaways resulting in 3 people injured
Investigation of a thermal oil heater fire aboard Dieppe Seaways at Dover. Weld-related stress caused coil failure, while a subsequent backdraught injured six crew and four firefighters, three seriously. The report examines inspection limitations, extinguishing systems, thermal imaging, joint firefighting command and cordon control.
- 2015Sep
Keeping electrical switchgear safe
Guidance for owners and operators of three-phase switchgear rated from 1 kV to 33 kV AC. It covers safe operation, competence, permits, maintenance and protection testing for oil, air, vacuum and SF6 equipment. Diagnostic methods and aged-equipment assessments support decisions on retention, refurbishment, retrofit or replacement.
- 201326 Jun
USCG Homeport Marine Safety Alert: Recent failures of dynamic positioning (DP) systems on MODUs
This safety flash clarifies US Coast Guard recommendations following dynamic positioning failures on mobile offshore drilling units. It discusses conditional live short-circuit and ground-fault testing of ride-through capability, planned onboard testing to validate analytical models, and regular thermal imaging within preventive maintenance, with appropriate planning and risk mitigation.
- 2005Sep
After Katrina: Special Precautions Needed During Oil and Chemical Facility Startup — In Wake of Hurricane Katrina, CSB Issues Safety Bulletin Urging Oil and Chemical Facilities to Take Special Safety Precautions During Startups
This CSB bulletin addresses safe restarting of refineries and chemical plants after Hurricane Katrina. It emphasises established startup procedures, management of change, staffing and training. Equipment checks cover flood and wind damage to tanks, pressure vessels, motors and instrumentation, including ground-fault testing and infrared scans when equipment is energised.
- 200323 Jul
Safety Alert 17 - Electrical Wiring Inspection And Maintenance
Two electrical fires on Pacific OCS platforms involved cracked control-panel wiring insulation and a failed generator rotor winding. Neither caused injuries. Against a background of ageing equipment, the alert recommends that operators consider periodic visual inspection, insulation-resistance testing and thermal imaging, with maintenance where problems are detected.
- Undated
Arc-Flash Fire in SCR Cabinet During Logging and Hydrate-Mitigation Pumping
Investigation of an arc-flash fire in Perdido’s silicon controlled rectifier cabinet during wireline logging and hydrate-mitigation pumping. Findings identify buss-insulator failure as the probable cause and equipment age as a contributor. The report examines ineffective fire detection and the limitations of external thermal imaging despite up-to-date maintenance.
- Undated
Turbine Generator Enclosure Fire on Appomattox Platform
Investigation of a turbine-generator enclosure fire on the Appomattox production platform. Vibration loosened exhaust-hatch fasteners, allowing hot exhaust to ignite plastic sheeting. The report describes shutdown, full muster, firefighting and thermal imaging checks. No injuries, explosions or environmental harm were reported; damage was estimated at $10 million.
- Undated
Equinor – Åsgard B – investigation of incident with fire
Investigation of a dry-type transformer fire on Åsgard B examines probable winding-insulation degradation leading to a short circuit or arc flash. It reviews protective instrumentation, maintenance limitations, transformer working-life arrangements and shortcomings in applying earlier incident learning. Firefighting, water cooling, thermographic checks and partial evacuation are documented; nobody was injured.
- Undated
Fire in engine room on offshore tug/supply vessel Toisa Gryphon
An investigation into an engine-room fire aboard Toisa Gryphon during seabed survey operations. A failed seal in the controllable-pitch propeller control system sprayed lubricating oil onto hot exhaust surfaces. The synopsis describes halon discharge, helicopter evacuation, thermal imaging and subsequent towing to Falmouth; no injuries were reported.