FILIPA MIGUEL - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: FILIPA MIGUEL
GAMA reference: 2022-391
Data da ocorrência acidental: 27-09-2022
Circulated on: 16-01-2023
Published on: 09-03-2023
Casualty Event: Fire
Summary
On 27 September 2022, FILIPA MIGUEL was fishing north-west of São Miguel when an advanced fire was detected in the engine room. Extreme heat, smoke and flames prevented access, and portable extinguishers could not control the fire. The Master ordered abandonment and activated the EPIRB. All eight crew members boarded a liferaft and were rescued by THOR MENELAUS. FILIPA MIGUEL subsequently sank and was a total loss.
Safety recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued in the final report.
Lessons learned
Automatic fire and smoke detection preserves critical response time in unattended machinery spaces. Watchkeeping and manning arrangements should ensure competent machinery monitoring. Once a fire becomes uncontrollable, timely mustering, abandonment and EPIRB activation protect life.