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A Ship was completely disabled when lubricating oil sprayed from the displaced cover of the filters on one engine on to the heated surface of the other. The watchkeepers shut down the engine on which the fire appeared not realizing that the other engine was the cause of the fire. Even though the remaining engine stopped automatically when the lubricating oil pressure was lowered an electrically driven standby pump continued to run and feed lubricating oil to the fire until the lubricating oil drain tank was empty. Unfortunately, the watchkeepers had difficulty escaping and the use of the fixed fire fighting installation was delayed but the fire was contained within the machinery spaces. The cover of the lubricating oil filter was displaced when two studs fractured. The filter had been subjected to frequent cleaning and considerable pressure variations due to the means of regulating the main engine lub oil pressure. |
