Question 1

As Chief Engineer taking over a vessel, the Kommandor Susan investigation found that non-genuine bearings had been fitted six years earlier without anyone verifying component authenticity, and extended service intervals continued to be applied as if genuine OEM parts were fitted. What should a Chief Engineer specifically establish to prevent this situation recurring on their own vessel?

Accepted Answer

A documented parts traceability record for every component fitted during overhauls (supplier, part number, OEM certification or equivalent), an audit of overhaul histories on taking over, and a refusal to accept extended service intervals without understanding and verifying the approval basis (i.e. confirming OEM parts are actually fitted if that was the condition of the extension) The MAIB found no process existed to verify that genuine OEM parts were fitted during Kommandor Susan's 2019 overhaul, and that extended service intervals — which were only valid on the assumption of genuine parts — continued to be applied regardless. The corrective lesson for a Chief Engineer is to build parts traceability into the maintenance system from day one (documented provenance for every critical component), to audit overhaul history on taking command of a vessel, and to never accept an extended interval at face value without confirming the condition it was granted on (genuine parts) still holds.

Question 2

You're draining a thermal oil system that was running normally a short time ago. Before opening the drain point, what should you confirm?

Accepted Answer

That the system has cooled and depressurised, and you are positioned clear of the drain point's discharge path On the dredger MV Amazone, two crew members draining a thermal oil system after months of contamination were sprayed with hot oil, suffering severe burns. The investigation found company procedures lacked clear instructions for safe drainage — confirming the system has cooled and depressurised, and standing clear of the discharge path, are essential before opening any drain point on a hot oil system.

Question 3

A thermal oil system has been contaminated and needs draining for cleaning. The written procedure tells you to open the drain valve but doesn't specify a cooling-down period or PPE. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Treat the gap as a hazard in its own right: apply a suitable cooling/depressurising period and full PPE before proceeding, and raise the procedure gap with the Chief Engineer The FEBIMA investigation into the MV Amazone incident found that although the crew followed company procedures, those procedures lacked clear instructions for safely draining a thermal oil system. A procedure that's silent on cooling time and PPE for a hazardous task is a gap to be closed before the job starts — not a green light to skip those precautions.