An incident at sea
by Published on 22nd January 2019 08:55 PM
Some years ago I joined a supply boat in Macae, Brasil, as Chief Engineer, it was operated by a German Captain with Philipino and Brazilian crew members. We sailed almost straight away.
The second engineer told me that the low level alarm on one of the engines did not operate, and the Lube Oil Purifier sometimes loosing its seal. I told him that we would use it at sea with someone in the engine room but not use it in port with the engine room not manned continuously.
It was before the E Mail and a found an electronic device that allowed me to inform the owners. It was never repaired.
The German Captain was very efficient, he liked his drink but we tested the alarm systems every weekend.
Things went well and one day we were in Macae and the Captain was ashore. The Bosun rang me and told me to start the engines as he wanted to sail the boat, I asked him if the Captain was available and he told me he was still ashore. I refused to do as he asked. The Captain arrived after midnight and we sailed.
Some time later the Captain was relieved by a Philipino. We sailed to a rig and discharged cargo. We had to go back to Port, as soon as we left the rig one of the propellers stopped. I went to the bridge to talk to the Captain and he told me that rather than work on the joystick as we always did he tied up to the rig, The rope entered the water and fouled a propeller.
I told him when he cleared it we still had a good one and we should go to port.
I went to bed. I was woken by one of the crew who told me the engine room was on fire. I went down and all appeared well, I entered the control room and again all was well. I opened the watertight door to the steering flat and found a number of cables on fire. I used an extinguisher to put the fire out.
I went to the Bridge and asked the Captain why the alarms did not operate, He told me when he joined the lights showed it was off and switched it on and it did not work. He never mentioned this and what he did switched off the alarm system. If he did not understand why did he not ask?
He had not cleared the rope and had damaged the other propeller.
We went to port and told the owners, we had to go to a dry dock in Niteroi.
In the dock both propellers where in poor condition.
It was time for me to leave the rig and the owners sent out one of their Chief Engineers and an Electrical Superintendent.
The superintendent told me that I could call my wife from his Hotel So I told him and my replacement who had been Chief on a number of the companies boats, about the engine without an alarm and told him them with no one in the engine room we did not run it.
When we came back we found out that the engine had been run and lost its bearings.
I stayed on the boat until it was repaired then left. When I went to sign off I was told that I had never signed on.
Sometime later I was called to Aberdeen and informed because I had left the replacement Chief on the rig and had refused to sail the rig when asked I was to be sacked. Strange as I joined and sailed that morning, never having been on such a boat before.
Funny fact I only went there to resign anyway.
I was also told the Electrical Superintendent had killed himself, they did not tell me why. I have often wondered if it was because he objected to me being sacked.
Which causes me deep distress because he appeared to be a good man.