Fuel safety advice issued after Manhattan Bridge container ship explosion caused death at Port of Felixstowe

Strict emission regulations have been highlighted as factors in a ship’s boiler room explosion, which claimed a sailor’s life and left another with severe burns. Celso Banas, 35 and from the Philippines, was killed while working on the MANHATTAN BRIDGE as it berthed at the Port of Felixstowe on January 19. An inquest, opened earlier this year, recorded that an explosion of steam in the boiler room led to Mr Banas being struck by debris, inflicting multiple injuries, which caused his death. The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published safety advice based on its separate investigation into the explosion yesterday. MAIB said the Japan registered Manhattan Bridge’s second engineer was investigating a boiler flame failure alarm along with Mr Banas, an engine room oiler, at the time of the blast. It said Mr Banas suffered “severe injuries” and died soon after the explosion, while the engineer suffered burns to his arm and face, which required a skin graft. The findings of an accident site investigation, prompted MAIB to publish safety advice about issues it says may be linked to the initial boiler flame failure. Leading up to the accident, MAIB said the boiler fuel supply had been switched from heavy fuel oil to marine gas oil to comply with international emissions control standards. Examinations of the boiler fuel system identified a build up of “waxy deposits” which were found sufficient to restrict fuel flow.MAIB said industry reports indicated an increase in engine performance problems in colder waters following the implementation of a “more stringent” sulphur emissions limit.