ROGER BLOUGH

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Latest news

NTSB report into fire published

The National Transportation Safety Board issued three safety recommendations on Sep 1, 2022, following an investigation into the engine room fire on Feb 1, 2021, in the winter layup at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding facility in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The cargo-unloading conveyor belts had ignited, causing extensive damage throughout the aft section of the vessel. The ship keeper on board departed the vessel without injury. No pollution was reported. Damage to the vessel exceeded $100 million. The NTSB investigators determined the fire originated at the burner for the diesel oil-fired furnace, which had been installed in the engine room to heat the space during the winter. The burner assembly was mounted onto the furnace?s air tube with an aluminium coupling. Investigators determined the coupling broke, allowing the burner to drop and fracture the fuel line supplying it. NTSB determined that the probable cause of the engine room fire aboard the vessel was likely the repeated removal and reinstallation of the furnace?s burner that led to the failure of its mounting coupling, resulting in the operating burner dropping to the bottom of its enclosure and fracturing the fuel supply line, which allowed diesel fuel to ignite. Contributing to the fire was the absence of a fire-activated automatic fuel oil shutoff valve on the fuel oil inlet piping before the burner, which would have stopped the fuel feeding the fire shortly after it started and limited the spread of the fire. As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued one recommendation each to the U.S. Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping, and Key Lakes Inc. The NTSB recommended that the U.S. Coast Guard require that furnace installations on vessels be inspected to comply with National Fire Protection Association recommendations and to develop standards requiring the installation of other types of shutdown mechanisms or safety alarms.

Bulk carrier in winter lay up caught fire

The 'Roger Blough' caught fire on Feb 1, 2021, at 2 a.m. at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where it was laid up for the winter. The Sturgeon Bay firefighters and several other fire departments responded. The firefighters initially had trouble finding the source of the fire. The vessel was moored between the 'James R. Barker' and the 'American Mariner' at pier 15. Sarter Marine tugs have been called to try and separate the ships. As of 10.30 a.m. the fire was thought to be under control, but firefighting was still ongoing. There were no reports of injuries. Reports with photo and video: https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/02/great-lakes-freighter-with-special-history-catches-fire-in-wisconsin-shipyard.html https://www.wbay.com/2021/02/01/crews-battle-fire-on-ship-in-sturgeon-bay/ https://doorcountydailynews.com/news/553739 https://www.wbay.com/2021/02/01/crews-battle-fire-on-ship-in-sturgeon-bay/ https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/video/21208218/wi-firefighters-battle-fire-aboard-docked-ship

Roger Blough transiting down St. Mary's River

The U.S. Coast Guard captain of the port, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on Aug 13 gave the "Roger Blough" permission Saturday to transit down the St. Marys River to anchorage in Potagannissing Bay in the vicinity of DeTour Village, Michigan. She had been anchored in Waiska Bay in Lake Superior since June 4 after grounding on Gros Cap Reef on May 27. Just before 11:30 a.m., she weighed anchor from Waiska Bay and began its transit down the St. Marys River, being escorted by the tug "Candace Elise", and it was expected the Blough will pass through the Soo Locks early in the afternoon. Coast Guard officials in Sault Ste. Marie and Milwaukee are currently reviewing the vessel's full transit plan as it intends to make its way to the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.