Liner fire feared —chief engineer

Press, 18 May 1989, Page 6

Liner fire feared —chief engineer

NZPA correspondent Sydney The ill-fated Soviet liner Mikhail Lermontov was in danger of catching fire through electrical shorting after it hit rocks off Cape Jackson in Marlborough Sounds in 1986, the New South Wales Supreme Court was told yesterday. The ship’s chief engineer, Mr Yuri Bolshakove, told the Court how the engine room crew struggled desperately to stop water entering through a cracked bulkhead from spraying on to the main electrical switchboard in the auxiliary engine room. At 5.38 p.m. on February 16, 1986, rocks tore holes in the hull causing flooding in forward compartments, including the gymnasium, the garage and the refrigeration room. At least one of the ship’s 28 watertight bulkhead doors started leaking, eventually leading to the inundation of lower deck compartments. Mr Bolshakove said structural damage suffered on impact with the rocks cracked at least one steel bulkhead and distorted the watertight door between the auxiliary engine room and the refrigeration room. The crew attempted to seal the leaking door by reinforcing it with timber beams, he said.

They also tried to cover the electrical switchboard with plastic sheeting to keep it dry, but there was “extreme danger” they' would be electrocuted.

The first engineer sprayed me switchboard with a fire extinguisher to try to eliminate electrical flashes. Shortly after 7 p.m. — 82 minutes after the grounding — Mr Bolshakove told the captain that water rising in the engine compartments was in danger of cutting the ship’s power. About 7.18 p.m., the power failed. “All the pumps on the vessel stopped and the main engines stopped when the lube oil and cooling water pumps cut out,” Mr Bolshakove said. The captain ordered evacuation of all personnel from the engine room and the auxiliary engine room at 7.32 p.m. At this point Mr Bolshakove said he was sure the ship would-stay afloat. The hearing to determine liability for the sinking was adjourned until August 7. The hearing started bn April 25 and has sat for 17 days. > Counsel for the ship’s owners, the Baltic Shipping Company, have called six crew from the Mikhail Lermontov to give evidence and plan to call several marine experts as witnesses. Counsel for the 151 Australian passengers, who are suing the shipping company for damages, have called eight witnesses including three passengers who were rescued from the sinking ship. Counsel for the Marlborough Harbour Board, Mr Joe Campbell, told the Court yesterday. “There are a variety of witnesses we are contemplating calling.”