ST. CLAIR

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Damaged bulk carrier en route to breakers

The 'St.Clair', following the fire in the Port of Toledo, Ohio on Feb 17, 2019, has remained there ever since. On Dec 7, 2021, it was taken in tow by the Canadian tug 'Molly M.I.' (IMO: 5118838), bound for the Marine Recycling Corp. scrapyard at Port Colborne, Ontario, where the vessel will be cut up, with an ETA as of Dec 9.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board released Marine Accident Brief on fire

On April 21, 2020, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board released a Marine Accident Brief on the fire aboard the 'St.Clair' in February 2019. The fire happened while the vessel was laid-up for the winter at the CSX TORCO Iron Ore Terminal at the mouth of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The fire was extinguished approximately 36 hours later by shoreside firefighters. No pollution or injuries were reported. The estimated property damage exceeded $150 million. The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the fire was the ignition of combustible material in the vicinity of an engine room workshop likely due to the use of portable space heaters or smoldering smoking materials, which spread to other areas of the vessel. Contributing to the extent of the fire damage was the lack of operating procedures for continuous active monitoring of the vessel while in layup status. Although a contractor that had been working on the vessel had identified smoke in the engine room, he assumed it was residual smoke from the hot work that occurred in the no. 6 port ballast tank and therefore did not investigate it further. The NTSB says the smoke was most likely coming from a smoldering hotspot, possibly from a burning piece of wood or trash, which eventually developed into the fire. By turning on the starboard exhaust fan in an effort to remove the smoke, and leaving it on when he departed, the movement of air within the engine room may have accelerated the growth of the smoldering hotspot into a fire. NTSB analysis indicated that the fire appeared to have originated just outside the workshop on the third deck on the starboard side of the engine room where the contractors regularly took their breaks. While numerous possible sources of ignition were identified in this area - including a propane heater, permanent and portable electric heaters and heat lamps, as well as cigarette smoking in the break area - the exact source could not be determined.

Fire out after three days

On Feb 17 at noon thick black smoke was still billowing from the cabin area of the "St. Clair", almost 16 hours since the first alarm was sounded for this fire. The Coast Guard was conducting a pollution assessment of the Maumee River. The external fire was currently under control. Preventative measures continue on adjacent ships using water-cooling techniques. A helicopter crew and a pollution responder aboard a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, conducted an aerial observation of the area at first light and determined there was no pollution in the Maumee River. The fire was still burning in the accommodations block, and there was extensive heat damage through the vessel from the unloading system at deck level to the upper cabins. On Feb 19 the fire had stopped burning. The Oregon Ohio Fire Departmentwas no longer on scene, while the investigation continued. The "St. Clair" was listing and required to be pumped out. Photos: http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/stclair2-18-19-ch-d.jpg http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/stclair2-18-19-ch-e.jpg