From: Alden Pomperada <[Link]@hoegh.
com>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 3:31 PM
To: Cheng Aurora <[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng Borealis
<[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng Australis <[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng
Sunlight <[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng Sunrise <[Link]@[Link]>;
Cheng Moonlight <[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng Rainbow
<[Link]@[Link]>; Cheng Starlight <[Link]@[Link]>
Cc: James Ian Lim <[Link]@[Link]>; Sheng Hua Ye <[Link]@[Link]>; Louie
Jude Luteria <[Link]@[Link]>; Ronaldo Calinawan <[Link]@[Link]>;
Edmar Alerta <[Link]@[Link]>
Subject: LNG Bunkering Checklist [Link], item 1.2 a) for clarification
Dear Chief Engineers,
Good day. I hope this email finds you well. Can you please advise if the below highlighted item is
appropriate or should be replaced with: "Fire detection system ESD function is active". Thank
you.
Kind regards,
Alden M. Pomperada
QA Machinery Manager/Designated Person Ashore/Vessel Manager
Höegh Technical Management Inc.
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From: Hoegh Australis - Ch Eng <[Link]@[Link]>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 5:29 PM
To: Alden Pomperada <[Link]@[Link]>
Cc: James Ian Lim <[Link]@[Link]>; Sheng Hua Ye <[Link]@[Link]>; Louie
Jude Luteria <[Link]@[Link]>; Ronaldo Calinawan <[Link]@[Link]>;
Edmar Alerta <[Link]@[Link]>
Subject: RE: LNG Bunkering Checklist [Link], item 1.2 a) for clarification
Dear Sir Alden,
Good day.
“Fire detection system ESD function temporarily disabled” is the most appropriate since “Fire
Alarm From Ship” during LNG bunkering is one of the factors that will trigger an ESD.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
C/E Christian Cagadas
Chief Engineer | Höegh Australis
Email: [Link]@[Link]
IP Phone: +47 2367 7206
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From: Alden Pomperada <[Link]@[Link]>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2026 7:56 PM
To: Cheng Australis <[Link]@[Link]>
Cc: James Ian Lim <[Link]@[Link]>; Sheng Hua Ye <[Link]@[Link]>; Louie
Jude Luteria <[Link]@[Link]>; Ronaldo Calinawan <[Link]@[Link]>;
Edmar Alerta <[Link]@[Link]>
Subject: Re: LNG Bunkering Checklist [Link], item 1.2 a) for clarification
Hello Christian,
Just to clarify, are you saying it is better for the ESD not to activate when the ship's fire alarm is
triggered? Shouldn't bunkering be stopped when a fire alarm is activated?
Kind regards,
Alden M. Pomperada
QA Machinery Manager/Designated Person Ashore/Vessel Manager
Höegh Technical Management Inc.
Phone: +632 8877 4309| Mobile: +63 908 810 3879
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From: Hoegh Australis - Ch Eng <[Link]@[Link]>
Sent: Saturday, August 1, 2026 1:19 PM
To: Alden Pomperada <[Link]@[Link]>
Cc: James Ian Lim <[Link]@[Link]>; Sheng Hua Ye <[Link]@[Link]>; Louie
Jude Luteria <[Link]@[Link]>; Ronaldo Calinawan <[Link]@[Link]>;
Edmar Alerta <[Link]@[Link]>
Subject: RE: LNG Bunkering Checklist [Link], item 1.2 a) for clarification
Dear Sir Alden,
Good day.
To clarify, the temporary isolation applies only to the fire-alarm outputs that directly trigger the
LNG bunkering ESD, specifically FA-to-LNG, and ESD-FA-Mach. These are the known areas where
a fire alarm automatically initiates an ESD: engine room, steering gear room, LNG-controlled
spaces, and FO bunker stations.
The fire detection system in these areas remains fully active at all times. All detectors continue
to monitor for smoke and heat, and any genuine fire will still be detected immediately. What is
isolated is only the output signal that initiates an automatic ESD.
This measure is necessary because the detectors in these zones are multi-detectors (smoke +
heat), and in tropical regions such as Singapore, they frequently generate heat-based pre-alarms
or fire alarms even without an actual fire. These false alarms can unintentionally trigger an ESD.
An unintended ESD during LNG bunkering can cause abrupt shutdowns, pressure surges, pump
trips, and potential equipment damage. In the event of a real fire, there are multiple dedicated
ESD push buttons onboard that can be activated immediately. The intention is not to prevent
ESD activation during a genuine emergency, but to avoid unintended ESD trips caused by false
fire alarms while maintaining full fire detection capability.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
C/E Christian Cagadas
Chief Engineer | Höegh Australis
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From: Alden Pomperada <[Link]@[Link]>
Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2026 11:20 AM
To: Cheng Australis <[Link]@[Link]>
Cc: James Ian Lim <[Link]@[Link]>; Sheng Hua Ye <[Link]@[Link]>; Louie
Jude Luteria <[Link]@[Link]>; Ronaldo Calinawan <[Link]@[Link]>;
Edmar Alerta <[Link]@[Link]>
Subject: Re: LNG Bunkering Checklist [Link], item 1.2 a) for clarification
Hello CE Christian,
Thank you for the clarification. Based on your experience during LNG Bunkering, how many
times does the fire alarm in the ER, SG room, LNG-controlled spaces, and FO bunker station
trigger?
Kind regards,
Alden M. Pomperada
QA Machinery Manager/Designated Person Ashore/Vessel Manager
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Dear Sir Alden,
Good day.
So far, I have not experienced any fire alarms being triggered during LNG bunkering operations.
Most of the fire alarms in these areas occur during cargo operations, particularly when high and
heavy machinery is operating on the upper deck (Deck 5). The strong vibrations from these
activities can cause false fire alarms to activate.
These fire detectors are quite sensitive, and even heavy vibrations can falsely trigger them. It is
also worth noting that this issue only happens during cargo operations and has not been
experienced alongside LNG bunkering.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
C/E Christian Cagadas
Chief Engineer | Höegh Australis
Email: [Link]@[Link]
IP Phone: +47 2367 7206
OTHER REPLIES FROM OTHER CHIEF ENGINEER
Dear Sir,
Good day.
The description below already acceptable, this will only disable the ESD function in ER, FO
bunker stations, and LNG-controlled spaces.
The fire detection system remains fully operational and will continue to trigger alarms for pre-
alarms, actual fires, or false alarms.
Because the ER and affected areas are continuously manned during bunkering, the crew can
immediately verify any alarm and manually initiate the ESD if an actual fire occurs.
Below function will be disabled on the Fire Console for ESD function.
Thank you and have a nice day ahead.
Kind regards,
Jay Christopher B. Rojas
Chief Engineer - Hoegh Starlight
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Bridge Phone 1: + 63 2 8540 2398 (24hrs)
Bridge Phone 2: +88 1677 1386 38 (24hrs)
Master Office: + 47 2367 5197
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Dear Sir Alden
Good day!
I hope this mail finds you well. Personal opinions should be temporarily disabled the ESD function
of fire detection system. The first reason is that the fire alarm will be activated in case of fire.
Just the ESD function disabled. The second reason is that during LNG bunkering, both the gas
station and Engine room are manned.
Best regards
CHENG:Shi Xiao Min
Chief Engineer of Hoegh Borealis
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
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Dear Sir Alden,
Good day.
Thank you for your email.
Since the Fire Detection System ESD function is temporarily disabled during LNG bunkering to
prevent an unnecessary Emergency Shutdown of the bunkering operation, we would prefer to
retain the current wording. This accurately reflects the actual operational condition onboard
during bunkering and is consistent with our onboard operating procedures. Replacing it with "Fire
detection system ESD function is active" would not correctly describe the system status at that
time and could therefore be misleading.
Please note that only the ESD function initiated by the fire detection system is temporarily
disabled. The fire detection system itself remains fully active and continues to monitor for any
fire throughout the bunkering operation. Should a fire occur, the fire detection system will still
provide alarms to alert the crew, only the automatic ESD initiation from the fire detection system
is temporarily inhibited to avoid an unintended interruption of the LNG bunkering operation.
We trust this clarifies our position. Kindly advise if the same comment has also been raised for
our sister vessels.
Best regards,
Dominic R. Ramos
Chief Engineer of HÖEGH AURORA
E-mail : [Link]@[Link]
IP TEL no. 1 (Master's Office) : +632 8271 2175
IP TEL no. 2 (Bridge) : +632 8540 2145
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Good day Sir,
From my point of view, the fire detection system ESD function should be kept active during LNG
bunker, as once a fire erupts in bunker station not only our own vessel is in danger LBV is also in
danger.
Anyway the bunker operation must be stopped immediately even ESD may cause damage to
equiments of LBV, safety is always on the top.
Thank you
Best Regards.
Chen Heping
Cheng of Hoegh Sunlight
[Link]@[Link]