Real Life Incident: Hopper Barges Suffer Total Cargo Loss From Spontaneous Wood Pellet Combustion
Two hopper barges carrying wood pellets caught fire due to spontaneous combustion triggered by moisture, cargo decomposition and heat build-up, resulting in total cargo losses.
Over a two-week span, two hopper barges loaded with wood pellets containing binders caught fire as a result of spontaneous combustion while awaiting transport at a fleeting facility (barge holding area). Each fire caused considerable damage, including total cargo loss and significant vessel damage. While spontaneous combustion is not common, it is also not unprecedented.
The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC) notes that ‘wood pellets containing additives or binders may ferment over time if moisture content is over 15% leading to generation of asphyxiating and flammable gases which may cause spontaneous combustion’.
Assessment of other wood pellet barges revealed the presence of several hazards that can lead to spontaneous combustion, including:
Unfortunately, the first identified hazard was visible smoke from already smouldering pellets. Heat from the smouldering cargo melted the hopper covers, introducing oxygen to a volatile situation, resulting in rapid and uncontrollable fire growth.
This story was originally published by Marine Insight. Read the full story at Marine Insight →
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