AUX BOILER - BLOW BACK BURNS

16th Feb. 04

I was 2nd Engineer, on a 20-year old Bulk Carrier in 1978. The Bridge asked to prepare engines for Departure from Anchorage.

The vessel's boiler for pre-heating the fuel was consistently giving problems. It had to be fired with a hand torch. Every time to fire the boiler, the fan vanes has to be shut, and on firing re-open the flap.

Unfortunately on this occasion, the boiler had fired after 2-3 attempts but the fan vane lever which was opened fully according to indication on lever did not actually open fully due to the broken shaft of the fan vane.

This resulted in a heavy blow back causing 5% burn injuries on self, oiler and wiper.