Cornwall Fire & Rescue MIRG attended a fire in the engine room on the MV OSCAR WILDE (31,914 tonnes, Passenger/Ro-Ro Vessel) on 02/02/2010. 

It was reported that there were 113 persons on board the vessel at the time of the incident MCA was informed of a fire in the engine room while at anchor in Falmouth Bay.  Two MIRG Teams of six (plus kit bags) were mobilised and airlifted to the vessel by Royal Navy Helicopter R193. Vessel suffered main fire pump failure and intermittent failure of emergency fire pumps.  MIRG Teams undertook boundary cooling and monitored the temperature of the engine room. Fire was reported to be out at 2300 hrs and the teams airlifted back to Falmouth.

The vessel remains at anchor and is due to be towed back to Falmouth during the morning.

At approximately 1715hrs on 2nd October 2009 East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service received a tasking request from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to deploy an assessment team to the MV Sea Charente (1638 tonnes). The vessel had earlier notified MCA of smoke coming from a ventilation hatch linked to the hold which contained 1900 tonnes of wheat pellets and had been advised to await the arrival of a specialist MIRG team prior to a decision being taken on bringing the vessel alongside.

The MIRG assessment team of 4 personnel (East Sussex Fire 1) were mobilised and responded with communications and temperature monitoring equipment which were transported by MCA Rescue Helicopter (Rescue 104) to the vessel. A thorough FLIR survey was carried out by the team in the helo which indicated an increased but uniform heating profile in the hold on the port side and an isolated hot spot in the focsle. The uniform heating was linked to the position of the vessel during its passage as this quarter had been exposed to the heat of the sun during the passage. The heating in the focsle was linked to a bow thruster. The starboard side showed no signs of increased temperature so a decision to board the vessel was taken by the Operations Commander (GC Dave Sheppard).

Once on board the vessel the team established the current situation and implemented a temperature monitoring regime around the hold and bow of the vessel ensure the situation remained stable. Temperature measurements were taken at ½ hourly intervals and remained constant throughout the passage. The vessel was directed to berth at Southampton with the MIRG team remaining on board to continue supporting the Master.

On arrival in Southampton the vessel was met by representatives from Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service who accepted the vessel from the MIRG team who were then repatriated back to their host FRS.

Humberside MIRG teams where deployed to the vessel SALINE approx 0400 Friday 9th March. SALINE is a General cargo ship, Gross tonnage 1990 and reported a fire in engine room. The master requested FRS assistance including BA. As such a decision was made to stand up and subsequently deploy MIRG teams. Nick Tharratt (Humberside MIRG Lead Officer) undertook the role of FLO. A debrief is being organised for March and will be promulgated in due course.

On the 5th September 2008 the MCA appointed a new Fire Liaison Manager, Fred Brown, a serving fire officer seconded from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. He will replace the current Fire Liaison Manager Craig Cook.

Fred has served in HFRS for 24 years prior to which he served in the Royal Navy for 9 years.

Fred’s career in the fire service has included responsibility for developing and delivering marine related fire fighting training at both the Warsash Maritime Centre and the Fire Service College. He has previously contributed to the Marine Incident Response Group through participation with the CFOA Marine Operation Group and the Sea of Change project training sub group.

Fred began a handover period on the 1st October 2008 and will assume responsibility for the Fire Liaison Manager’s role in December.