Fires lead to exhaust fix for mine ships

[unhappycamper]

Fires lead to exhaust fix for mine ships
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 6:53:12 EDT

Two minor fires at sea over the past year have prompted fleetwide repairs to the Navy’s 14 mine countermeasures ships, which commanders hope will make them safe from fires started by leaky engine exhaust.

Two Avenger-class minesweepers — the Scout and Dexterous — had fires break out while underway in the Persian Gulf, said Cmdr. Angel Cruz, executive officer of the Mine Countermeasure Class Squadron.

The cause in both cases was a leaky engine exhaust system. Hot exhaust apparently ignited engine gunk that built up in the leak, starting a fire.

Fire is dangerous aboard any warship, but mine countermeasures ships are a case unto their own.

“MCM 1-class ships are constructed of a wood-fiberglass composite — a fire can be especially dangerous to the survival of the crew,” said Ed Mickley, a spokesman for the squadron, in a written statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_mineships_102008w/%2e