Fire Safety at Sea: Prevention is the BEST Strategy to Protect Your Vessel & Save Lives

Posted July 5, 2017

There are 3 primary causes of disasters at sea. Sinking, Collisions and Fire. Fire is the most feared and the most preventable.

Did you know that the leading cause of fire on marine vessels is related to electrical and equipment failure and that most fires begin in the engine room? If the correct fire suppression system is not in place, a fire can easily and quickly destroy a vessel’s control system and disable the vessel in seconds.

Given the grave danger of fire on vessels, it is critically important to insure the following:

1) Regular and thorough maintenance checks – these are best done per an arranged schedule and crew must be held accountable to these checks. When in port, consider the FIRE RANGER Dockside Inspection services.

2) Top-notch fire suppression equipment on board (if you are not sure whether your vessel has the best and most up-to-date system, the experts at Fire Ranger can assist) – it is important to note that if the correct equipment is not in place and the engine room fire cannot be put out, the risk of losing the vessel and loss of life is far more likely.

3) Adhering to Safety Rules – there are many organizations that provide clear guidelines for marine safety including the Coast Guard, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Watch Keeping (STCW) among others.

4) Most important of all – fire safety and prevention training, fire equipment inspections and certifications. Contact Fire Ranger for our dockside service to have everything from inspections, testing, training, certifications and installation of all your fire and safety equipment.

Fire Prevention Is simply priceless.

In addition to the equipment (see list below) that every vessel should have, there are specific guidelines as seen in marinebuzz.com, that should be followed.

Fire Safety Prevention Equipment

Flame detectors
Heat detectors
Smoke detectors
Fire Suppression system
Fire Extinguishers

Fire Safety Prevention Guidelines:

1) Prevention of Class A (General) Fire:

Regular Inspections/Patrols around vessel
Use of fire retardant, fire resistant materials in the construction of the vessel wherever applicable
Keeping working areas under lock & key, when not in use or manned
Denying entry to unauthorized personnel

2) Prevention of Class B (Oil) Fire:

Proper storage of oil & petrol products
Properly maintained fuel handling systems
Properly trained personnel
Avoiding leakage in the fuel system
No smoking
Not using naked lights
Operating fuel systems under supervision

3) Prevention of Class C (Electrical) Fire:

Properly maintained electrical equipment
Ensuring proper electrical insulation
Avoiding naked wires
Using weather proof, explosion proof fittings where necessary
Properly trained personnel
Switching off electrical equipment when not in use (lights, fans, air conditioners etc.)
Avoiding prolonged use or overloading of equipment

Prevention of Class D (Chemical) Fire:

Understanding the characteristics of the chemicals and accordingly standard operating procedures must be implemented for the personnel handling these chemicals.
Proper fire suppression systems that are regularly tested and up to code

With so much at stake and so many prevention strategies, it is recommended to work with certified marine fire safety experts who can provide you the peace of mind and assurance that you need to keep your vessel, crew and passengers safe. At Fire Ranger, we know the statistics are staggering and that having a complete marine fire prevention program in place is crucial for property loss prevention and crew safety. One of the most critical roles yacht owners have in preventing fires is training and regular fire safety inspections. Fire Ranger is the leader in marine fire safety equipment and training and has been proudly servicing yacht owners and marinas across the State of Florida, the Caribbean and Central America, since 1989. Contact us today to schedule an inspection for your fire safety equipment and fire safety training for your crew. Act Today to Prevent Loss Tomorrow. www.FireRanger.com or 954-566-5430.