The Importance of Properly Placed Smoke and Fire Detectors on Vessels

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is emphasizing the critical role of smoke and fire detectors following its investigation of a fire incident on the fishing vessel Tarka II near Tatoosh Island, Washington in September 2024.

Marine Investigation Report 25-24 revealed that the Tarka II lacked a smoke or fire detector in the engine room where the fire originated. Although the engine room had a CCTV camera that could have shown live feed in the wheelhouse, it was non-operational during the incident.

The NTSB report stated, “Installation of smoke and fire detectors in uncrewed spaces like the engine room enables early detection and notification of a fire, giving operators more time to respond or evacuate the vessel.”

The captain only became aware of the fire when he noticed smoke from the exhaust stacks. Despite having smoke detectors outside the engine room and in the galley, they did not activate until the captain opened the engine room door.

Upon discovering a smoldering fire near the hydraulic tank and pump, the captain shut down the generator and main engine. As the fire escalated, the captain and a crewmember had to abandon ship into a liferaft before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Unfortunately, the Tarka II sank and was unrecoverable, hindering investigators from pinpointing the exact cause of the fire. The vessel was deemed a total loss estimated at $460,000.

The NTSB recommends that vessel operators enhance fire safety by installing detectors in all fire-prone areas such as engine rooms, galleys, and spaces with machinery, hot exhaust tubing, and fuel sources. These detectors should be capable of notifying crew members throughout the vessel and undergo regular checks to ensure functionality.

For more details, the full investigation report can be accessed on the NTSB website.