Fire safety systems for marine and offshore

Fire is one of the major reasons for accidents at a ship. These ships carry a large number of

flammable products such as petrol, gasoline, etc. That is why it is necessary to equip these

ships with a marine fire suppression system and portable fire extinguishers.

But the question arises how does fire occur on a ship in the sea? The main reason is

“negligence.” Here is the list of common causes that causes fire:

Fault in machinery: If any machine part overheats or fails, it will result in fire. This can

instantly get out of control when the fire is exposed to oil or fuel. Leakage in fuel pipe or

exhaust gases can also contribute to instant onboard fires.

Lack of Training in Crew: If your crew members are not properly trained, the probability of fire breakout on your ship also increases.

Outdated fire extinguishers: If they are very old, they will not help you extinguish the fire.

However, it does not have any expiry date; still, it does not work that effectively after a

certain time.

Kitchen Equipment : If you cannot use kitchen equipment properly, it will result in a fire.

In most Cargo ship kitchens are old, and the equipment can be damaged that outbreaks the

fire.

Servicing and Maintaining Fire-fighting Appliances 

Good service and maintenance of fire-fighting appliances are required so that no major

accident occurs because of fire. Therefore, we provide you some steps for maintenance:

Make a plan for Inspection and Maintenance in Ships: Proper guidelines should be there for maintenance of fire safety system according to which inspection of firefighting equipment must be carried out. 

Make Equipment Available for Use Instantly: All the fire safety equipment and systems

must be in good condition and available for immediate use in case of a fire. Also ensure that

you must have an alternate system in the ship so that if one fire fighting system does not work

properly, you will not compromise with the safety. 

Inspections at Regular Intervals: Inspections must be carried out as required by fire safety

systems weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, two-year, five-year, and ten-year basis.

SOLAS  also provide some requirements for fire safety systems which are as follow: 

~ Every cabin must be occupied with smoke detectors.

~ The minimum capacity of powdered carbon dioxide is 5 kg.

~ Extinguishers must place near the entrance.

~ The maximum capacity of a portable fire extinguisher should not exceed 23 kg.

~ Fire fighting appliances must be known to the crew members.

Most of the time, fires on ships are caused due to negligence. So, it is mandatory to take the

necessary safety measures to ensure that no fire breaks out on a ship.