Trade-A-Boat – August 2019

COMMERCIALNEWS | THEBUSINESSEND

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Fitzroy Flyer Suspected Fire Investigation

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau

(ATSB) is investigating a suspected engine room fire

and passenger evacuation involving the domestic

commercial vessel Fitzroy Flyer earlier this year.

The catamaran departed Fitzroy Island on a return

trip to Cairns with four crew and 37 passengers

onboard. At about 2:10pm, the master noticed the port

main engine was overheating and reduced the engine

throttle to idle.

Shortly after, a fire alarm activated in the engine

compartment. Crewmembers investigated and reported

a suspected fire. Crewmembers then attempted to

extinguish the fire using CO2 and dry powder, however,

they could not confirm their actions were successful.

All passengers were then mustered and the master

advised the port authority of the situation. He then

radioed for assistance from nearby vessels in Mission

Bay, about seven nautical from Cairns.

At about 2:50pm, the port engine was shut down

and the fire suppression system was released. By 4pm,

all passengers had been evacuated to two vessels. At

4:15pm, the master started the starboard engine and

resumed the voyage to Cairns at slow speed. By 5:10pm,

the vessel had been safely berthed without further

incident.

Following an onboard inspection, the port engine

cooling water header tank was found empty and the

smoke sighted by crewmembers was assumed to

be steam. There were no signs of a fire nor any fire

damage in the engine compartment.

The ATSB investigation will focus on the on board

response, emergency procedures and passenger

management.

NEW JETS ORDERED BY INCAT

The WXJ series of modular waterjets, introduced
by Wärtsilä earlier this year, has been selected
for its first installation in an Australian vessel.
Hobart-based shipbuilder Incat has ordered
four of the Wärtsilä WXJ1200 waterjets for a
new 100m wave-piercing catamaran ferry it is
building for the Government of Trinidad and
Tobago. The ferry will be capable of a service
speed of 36kt. It will be able to carry up to 1,000
passengers and 239 cars, or a combination of
trucks and cars.
The WXJ series was officially launched in
early March, and the booking of this first order
was made in the same month.
The series is a further development and
upgrading of the Wärtsilä LJX waterjets. They
offer greater efficiency, and lower cavitation and
underwater noise levels than the LJX series.
“We have worked with Wärtsilä for many
years already, and we have complete confidence
in their waterjets. The new WXJ series takes the
performance to an even higher level, bringing
even greater value to this exciting new vessel,”
said Tim Burnell, CEO, Incat Tasmania.
In addition to the four WXJ waterjets,
Wärtsilä will also supply the Wärtsilä ProTouch
operational control system.
The equipment is scheduled for delivery
in May 2020, and the ferry is expected to be
handed over to the owners in late 2020.