Fishing vessel Barði NK suffers engine room explosion and fire

The fishing vessel Barði NK, belonging to Síldarvinnslan, is likely to be out of service for some time following a major fire in its engine room. The incident occurred on Friday while the ship was north of the Faroe Islands.

Grétar Örn Sigfinnsson, operations manager, and Páll Freysteinsson, safety manager for Síldarvinnslan, traveled to the Faroe Islands to assess the damage. They reported that the damage is substantial, but the crew's swift response prevented a more severe disaster. Representatives from the insurance company and the Icelandic Transportation Safety Investigation Board also attended the scene.

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The cause of the fire is that an oil line ruptured in the engine room and there was an explosion.

According to the ship's captain, Theodór Elvar Haraldsson, the fire was caused by a ruptured oil line in the engine room, leading to an explosion. The crew of five managed to extinguish the blaze within a short period, and no one was injured. The vessel drifted unpowered for three hours before a Faroese coast guard vessel towed it back to Tórshavn.

Haraldsson emphasized the critical role of regular safety drills, noting that the crew had recently practiced responding to similar emergencies. He stated that the training ensured everyone knew exactly what to do, which was crucial in preventing the fire from spreading and becoming uncontrollable.

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These drills meant that everyone on board knew exactly what needed to be done in this situation. The crew's training was crucial because if the fire had burned longer in the engine room, we would have lost all control.