Haven Hawk
At speed on the River Stour is the Harwich Harbour Authority's (HHA) 16m, 24-tonne pilot boat Haven Hawk on a fine October morning in 2008.
On 20 June 2007 the boat suffered an engine-room fire while 19 miles south-east of Harwich. The crew of three and one pilot were subsequently winched from the vessel by an RAF rescue helicopter. The Harwich lifeboat also attended the scene and continued boundary cooling initiated by the crew and confirmed the fire was out. The lifeboat subsequently towed the pilot boat back to Harwich.
Detailed investigations found that the port engine turbocharger oil supply pipe was not bracketed and had failed at the connection to the oil filter through fatigue. Oil then sprayed onto the turbocharger causing the fire.
It was also found that the recently inspected, and certified, fixed 45-litre water spray system reservoir had suffered widespread internal preservation detachment causing internal corrosion and the possibility of blockage. Other HHA pilot boats had suffered identical problems as well as complete detachment of the internal siphon tubes rendering the systems inoperable.
There were no injuries to personnel and no pollution.
Haven Hawk
At speed on the River Stour is the Harwich Harbour Authority's (HHA) 16m, 24-tonne pilot boat Haven Hawk on a fine October morning in 2008.
On 20 June 2007 the boat suffered an engine-room fire while 19 miles south-east of Harwich. The crew of three and one pilot were subsequently winched from the vessel by an RAF rescue helicopter. The Harwich lifeboat also attended the scene and continued boundary cooling initiated by the crew and confirmed the fire was out. The lifeboat subsequently towed the pilot boat back to Harwich.
Detailed investigations found that the port engine turbocharger oil supply pipe was not bracketed and had failed at the connection to the oil filter through fatigue. Oil then sprayed onto the turbocharger causing the fire.
It was also found that the recently inspected, and certified, fixed 45-litre water spray system reservoir had suffered widespread internal preservation detachment causing internal corrosion and the possibility of blockage. Other HHA pilot boats had suffered identical problems as well as complete detachment of the internal siphon tubes rendering the systems inoperable.
There were no injuries to personnel and no pollution.