Page 31: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2022)

FEATURE FIREFIGHTING

This includes: number of containership ? res, it would appear that these ? re ? Regulatory framework safety objectives are not being met. Therefore, the problem, at ? Ship design least in part, may lie with ship design.

? Fire protection In any emergency situation, especially a ? re or explosion, ? Safe carriage of cargo the ship must continue to function. The heart (engine room) ? Crew competence and the mind (command bridge) of the vessel must be protect- ed to ensure continuous safe operation for as long as is fore-

Regulatory Framework seeably possible. Whilst the engine room is fairly well-pro-

Relevant regulation is set out in Chapter II-2 of the Inter- tected with automatic ? re detection and protection measures, national Convention, SOLAS (Part A, Regulation 2), which the challenge is maintaining essential air supplies to sustain sets out the (1) ? re safety objectives and (2) applicable func- propulsion and power to vital equipment. Dangerous goods, tional requirements . It is clear from this regulation that the declared or not, should not be stored in proximity to these two principles of prevention, detection, compartmentation and areas as they pose the greatest risk to the ship’s safety. The life safety are all included. And so the question arises, is it guidance, on risk based stowage, produced by CINS in 2019, the regulatory framework that is lacking or does the problem provides good advice on this topic .

lie elsewhere? The regulatory framework must continue to A ship’s hold can be compared to a high-bay warehouse evolve and be ready for the risks of tomorrow. with the added disadvantage of cargo stuffed in separate com- partments (containers). As such, the early stages of a ? re may

Ship Design not be detected due to the lack of buoyant ? re gases. Once

Fire safety objectives shall be achieved by ensuring compli- established, the ? re can spread forward and aft with little in ance with prescriptive requirements. Given the concern now the way of structural containment to retard the ? ow of heat, being expressed by insurers and others regarding the alarming ? ame and smoke.

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