Incorrect Valve Installation Causes Engine Room Fire On Cargo Vessel, Killing 2

According to the latest report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the fire onboard the cargo vessel Stride was caused by an incorrect valve installed in a diesel oil tank system six weeks before the incident.

The fire broke out in the engine room of the vessel during bunkering operations at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal in LaPorte, Texas, on January 8, 2024.

This led to the deaths of two crew members onboard, left another seriously injured and led to a total loss of the vessel valued at $12 million.

Investigators found that an angle stop check valve, which allows fuel to flow in only one direction, was mistakenly installed instead of the specified angle stop valve. This improper installation disrupted the fuel system, leading to a dangerous overflow of diesel fuel during bunkering.

The NTSB investigation revealed that when one fuel tank reached full capacity, the incorrectly installed valve redirected diesel oil through a common vent line instead of allowing it to flow…

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