A Cargo Ship Caught Fire During Welding Operation 危险！货船在焊接作业时突然起火！

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On October 14th, a cargo ship anchored in the Mandalay region of Myanmar ignited the oil mist released by the diesel barrel in the cabin during welding operations, causing a fire.

10月14日，一艘停泊在缅甸曼德勒地区的货船在进行焊接作业时，引燃了船舱内柴油桶释放出的油雾，从而引发火灾。

Local fire department officials reported that the fire raged for nearly an hour and a half. The authorities dispatched a first-level fire emergency response team, and the public also participated in the firefighting efforts. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the cargo on board suffered great losses.

当地消防局称，火势燃烧了将近一个半小时，当局派出一级火灾事故消防力量扑救，民众也参与其中，所幸没有造成人员伤亡，但船上货物损失惨重。

A bulk carrier is a type of merchant ship characterized by its large capacity, safety, efficiency, and durability, specializing in transporting bulk commodities such as coal, grain, and sulfur. Bulk carriers account for 15% to 17% of the world's merchant fleet. Therefore, if a bulk carrier catches fire, it can severely impact the transportation of goods, thereby threatening the stable operation of the global supply chain.

散货船是一种货物商船，具有容量大、安全、高效和耐久性等特征，专门运输煤炭、谷物、硫磺等大宗贸易物品，散货船占世界商船队的15%至17%。因此，如果散货船发生火灾，会严重影响货物的运输，从而威胁到全球供应链的稳定运行。

However, the fire hazards of bulk carriers vary depending on the cargo. Coal, one of the most common cargoes on bulk carriers, poses a significant combustion hazard. Coal releases methane gas, a odorless combustible gas that can explode when mixed with air at concentrations between 5% and 16% if an external ignition source is introduced. Additionally, coal can self-heat, leading to spontaneous combustion. The combustion of coal produces carbon monoxide, a odorless gas that is toxic to inhale and can cause suffocation. Therefore, crew members must take necessary fire prevention measures during loading, navigation, and unloading, removing all sources of fire from the deck and holds. Regular gas detection in the spaces above each hold should be conducted, including methane, oxygen levels, and carbon monoxide. Before removing hatch covers or other openings, any accumulated gases should be vented, including during unloading.

然而，散货船的火灾危害因物品而异。煤炭是散货船上最常见的货物之一，其燃烧危害不容小觑。煤炭会释放甲烷气体，它是一种无味的可燃气体，如果引入外部点火源，5%至16%的甲烷空气混合物会爆炸。同时，煤炭也可能自热，导致自发燃烧。煤炭燃烧会产生一氧化碳，是一种无味的气体，吸入有毒，并可能导致窒息。所以，船员在装载、航行和卸货期间，必须采取必要的防火措施，清除甲板和货舱内所有火源。定期检测每个货舱上方空间的气体，包括甲烷、氧气含量和一氧化碳。在移除舱口盖或其他开口之前，应注意排放任何积聚的气体，包括卸货。

Grain is also a common cargo on bulk carriers, including wheat, corn, oats, and legumes. Before transporting grain, the captain should consult the International Grain Code to ensure full compliance with the stipulated provisions. Wheat and corn can also cause dust explosions, so smoking and open flames are not allowed near the holds during loading, unloading, or cleaning. Additionally, it is worth noting that cassava flour is prone to spontaneous combustion when wet, and surface ventilation of the cargo should be conducted whenever weather conditions permit.

谷物也是散货船常见的货物，包括小麦、玉米、燕麦和豆类等。在运输谷物货物之前，船长应查阅《国际谷物运输规则》，以确保其船舶能完全遵守所规定的条款。小麦和玉米还会引起粉尘爆炸，所以在装载、卸载或清扫期间，不允许在货舱附近吸烟和使用明火。此外，值得注意的是，木薯粉在潮湿时易自燃，只要天气条件允许，应对货物进行表面通风。

Sulfur is an extremely flammable substance that is particularly prone to dust explosions during loading, unloading, or cleaning processes, and its combustion produces toxic and highly irritating gases. Crew members must remember not to smoke, use open flames, or perform hot work anywhere on the deck. Before closing, all tracks, rollers, compression strips, hatch covers, etc., should be swept to remove sulfur dust, ensuring that no small fires are caused when opening and closing hatch covers.

硫磺是一种极易燃烧的物质，特别容易在装载、卸载或清洁过程中发生粉尘爆炸，燃烧时会产生有毒、极度刺激的气体。船员需要谨记不得在甲板上任何地方吸烟、使用明火或进行热工作业。在关闭之前，应清扫所有轨道、滚轮、压缩条、舱口盖等，以清除硫磺粉尘，确保在开启和关闭舱口盖时不会引起小火。

Direct reduced iron, or DRI for short, is a metal product used in the steel industry and can be transported by dry bulk carriers. It is transported in bulk in the form of pellets, lumps, or briquettes. DRI has a porous and sponge-like structure with a large surface area. Contacting with water can lead to violent reoxidation, accompanied by the generation of heat and hydrogen gas. Extra care should be taken during transportation to avoid contact with water, as this could lead to explosion risks.

直接还原铁，简称DRI，是钢铁工业中使用的一种金属产品，可用干散货船运输。它以球团、块状或压块的形式散装运输。DRI是多孔和海绵状结构，具有较大的比表面积。与水接触可能导致剧烈的再氧化，并伴随着热量和氢气的产生，在运输过程中需要格外注意，避免与水接触，这可能会导致爆炸风险。

Preventive measures are essential, but if a fire does occur, on-site emergency firefighting measures should also be well memorized. When a fire breaks out, the ship's speed should first be reduced to decrease the air pressure inside the holds, and the course should be adjusted to put the fire out of the wind, which helps to control the fire. Then, oil and gas lines should be quickly shut off, and important places such as the engine room should be sealed to prevent the spread of the fire.

预防措施必不可少，可如若真的发生火灾，现场紧急灭火措施也要了然于心。火灾发生时应先降低船速来减小舱内空气压力，调整航向使着火部位背风，有助于控制火势。然后迅速切断油气管路，封闭机舱等重要处所，避免火势蔓延。

Water is the most common firefighting tool and is also the easiest to obtain during navigation. For example, a grain fire can be extinguished with water. Water has a cooling effect, which can lower the temperature of the grain below its ignition point, thus stopping the combustion. However, not all fires can be extinguished with water. Some metals and chemicals such as sodium, magnesium, aluminum powder, and sulfuric acid can react with water, producing other combustible substances and a large amount of heat, which can intensify the fire. Some metals cannot be extinguished with carbon dioxide fire extinguishers and should be extinguished with dry sand or cast iron filings; chemicals can be extinguished with dry powder fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, or sand.

水是最常见的灭火工具，船舶在航行中也最容易获取，如谷物起火就可以用水扑灭。水具有冷却作用，可以降低谷物的温度，使其低于燃点，从而停止燃烧。但并不是所有起火都能用水来扑灭。一些金属和化学物品如钠、镁、铝粉、硫酸等会与水发生反应，产生可燃烧的其他物质和大量热量，加剧火势。一些金属也不能使用二氧化碳灭火器，应使用干砂或铸铁屑末；化学物品可以使用干粉灭火器、二氧化碳灭火器或者沙土。

The safe operation of bulk carriers is crucial to global trade. Those in charge should fully understand the characteristics of each type of cargo to identify and respond to various potential fire risks and know how to safely handle and store all types of cargo. In addition, crew members should also be familiar with various firefighting equipment and methods so that they can take swift and effective action in the event of a fire.

散货船的安全运营对于全球贸易至关重要。负责人应充分掌握各个货物特性，以识别和应对各种潜在的火灾风险，并明确知晓如何安全地处理和储存各类货物。此外，船员还应该熟悉各种灭火设备和方法，以便在火灾发生时能够迅速有效地采取行动。

With the continuous development of the shipping industry and technological progress, new safety measures and firefighting technologies are also emerging. For example, modern ships may be equipped with advanced fire detection systems and automatic firefighting systems that can detect and control fires in their early stages.

随着航运业的不断发展和技术的进步，新的安全措施和灭火技术也在不断涌现。例如，现代船舶可能配备有先进的火灾探测系统和自动灭火系统，这些系统可以在火灾发生初期就及时发现并控制火势。

The safe operation of bulk carriers requires the joint efforts of ship owners and relevant regulatory agencies. By taking appropriate preventive measures, raising safety awareness, and using advanced firefighting technologies and equipment, not only can the risk of fires on bulk carriers be reduced, but the overall safety level of ships can also be improved, together writing a new chapter in the development of shipping safety.

散货船的安全运营需要船只负责人及相关监管机构的共同努力。通过采取适当的预防措施、提高安全意识、使用先进的灭火技术和设备，不仅可以降低散货船火灾的风险，还可以助力船舶安全水平全面提升，共同谱写航运安全发展的新篇章。