Wight-Sky

On April 28, 2022, the MAIB has published its accident investigation report into the two catastrophic engine failures, one resulting in a fire, on board the 'Wight Sky' at the entrance to Lymington River and before berthing at Lymington Pier on Aug 26 and Dec 14, 2018. * Maintenance management, engine condition monitoring and quality control standards contribute to string of Wightlink ferry catastrophic engine failures * Factory assembly error causes catastrophic engine failure * Auxiliary system design / configuration and engine operating parameters contributed to long term main engine reliability problems Full report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6267cc85e90e071690c1b679/2022-4-WightSky-Report.pdf

Two engine failures during Solent ferry sailings were caused by assembly errors, an investigation has found. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published its report on May 16, 2019, and stated that errors were made by Swedish engine manufacturer Volvo Penta and a UK Volvo dealer. The two incidents were part of an ongoing MAIB inquiry. The vessel suffered catastrophic failures in August and December 2018, the investigators said in an interim report. In the first incident, an engine was engulfed in flames as the ship, carrying 117 passengers, was preparing to enter the Lymington River. The fire, which was so far unexplained, was extinguished by the ship's water-mist system. In December, a newly-built engine on the ferry failed due to a factory error. The investigators said that there was no fire, although Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service previously said a blaze had been extinguished by eight crews.

On Dec 14, 2018, a fire broke out in the engine room of the "Wight Sky" after she docked at the ferry terminal of Lymington, coming from Yarmouth, at 7 a.m. All passengers and crew were disembarked with no injuries. The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted and all ferry traffic disrupted. At least five pumping appliances, an aerial ladder platform and the Incident Command Unit resonded alongs with the South Central Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team. The Lymington RNLI lifeboat has been tasked to the incident by Solent Coastguard. Firefighters have donned breathing apparatus and are working to bring the situation under control. The fire was contained to the engine room and the temperature is being monitored while suppression is in use. There were no signs of it spreading to any other compartments. At 9.20 a.m. the fire was reported to be out and the response was caled back. Already in September 2017 and on Aug 26 the ferry suffered an engine room fire meaning this incident was the third in just 15 months. In Octboer 2018 the ferry was taken out of service for urgent repairs in order to replace a fuel injector in one of the engines. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) was aware of the incident and had Coastguard officers on the ground. Also the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has been informed. Booked customers on the Lymington-Yarmouth route were diverted on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne service. Report with photos and video: https://www.islandecho.co.uk/engine-room-fire-breaks-out-on-wightlink-ferry/ https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17298222.fire-breaks-out-on-cross-solent-wightlink-ferry/ https://iwobserver.co.uk/2018/12/14/engine-room-fire-on-board-wightlinks-vehicle-ferry/