A deadly fire this past December onboard the Oceania cruise ship Insignia that claimed three lives has prompted the U.S. Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate to issue a Marine Safety Alert (04-15) on Engine Room Operations. The engine room fire started when a fuel oil spray under pressure developed from an operating engine's fuel supply line when a bolted flange parted. The fuel spray ignited when it contacted the engine's exhaust piping or turbocharger components. The vessel's fine mist extinguishing system automatically activated and performed as designed extinguishing the primary fire. Fuel pumps and shutoff valves were also secured. However, the short-duration fire also ignited cable bundles, quickly filling the machinery space with smoke. As a result, one crewmember and two technicians were unable to egress and perished in the engine room.
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