Engine Room Fires

Frank Anderson CEng CMarEng FIMarEST

Partner, Burgoynes

Frank Anderson is a forensic engineer who has investigated a wide range of fires, explosions and engineering failures on land and on ships.

On land, he has worked in a variety of locations, from dwellings and commercial premises through to power stations and oil refineries. He has an interest in investigating fires in engineering plant, vehicles and oil fired equipment. He investigates engineering failures, ranging from escapes of oil and water to the failure of large diesel and gas engines.

As a marine engineer, he has an interest in the investigation of incidents aboard ships, having worked or investigated incidents aboard most vessel types, including: bulk carriers, car carriers, container ships, cruise ships, dive support vessels, dredgers, general cargo ships, livestock carriers, reefer vessels, research vessels, Ro-Ro passenger ferries, tankers, tugs and yachts. Aboard ships, he has investigated engineering failures, fires and explosions arising from a range of phenomena. These incidents have occurred in machinery spaces, on deck, in cargo holds and in accommodation spaces. He has also investigated cases of cargo contamination and spillage, and marine equipment failures. Whilst he investigates a wide range of incidents, he has a particular interest in engine room fires, diesel engine and auxiliary equipment failures, and in the operation and failure of fire-fighting equipment.

He has travelled extensively and has investigated incidents in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Africa and South America. He has given expert evidence in criminal courts, civil courts, arbitrations and mediations, both in the UK and overseas.

He has lectured on fire and engineering failure investigation at conferences, and to audiences from the insurance and marine industries, to the fire service (in the UK and overseas) and to fire investigation professionals. He has also assisted insurers, ship operators and publishers with the preparation of marine safety bulletins and articles.

Stuart Henderson CBE, FIMarEST

Head of Maritime and Nuclear, SQEP Limited

Stuart Henderson joined the Royal Navy aged 18 as a Marine Engineer, completing an in-Service degree in Marine Engineering and qualifying in steam propulsion in HMS JUNO.  His early sea career included HMS LONDON in the 1991 Gulf conflict, HMS ARK ROYAL in the Northern Atlantic, and HMS BOXER in the Far East and the Adriatic.  He was Marine Engineer of HMS SOUTHAMPTON, mostly spent in the Middle East in the aftermath of 9/11.

Ashore, he was a leadership instructor before a master’s degree in marine engineering, specialising in Electrical Power Systems, at University College London; then worked on electrical machine development in the Navy Support Command, a forerunner of the DE&S, in Bath.  After more time on operations, at sea and ashore, he had 3 wonderful years bringing the last Type 45 destroyer, HMS DUNCAN, out of build in Scotstoun, Glasgow. 

His later Navy career included capability management and finance in the Ministry of Defence HQ, personnel management, and joint operations.  He left the Navy in 2023 after over 4 years as the Navy Safety Director and was appointed CBE last year.  He is currently the Head of Maritime and Nuclear at SQEP Limited.

He is a keen sailor and Mountain Leader, having recently completed all 282 mountains in Scotland over 3000 feet.  A Freeman of the City of Glasgow and Fellow of the IMarEST, he chaired the International Naval Engineering Conference in 2020 and 2022.