Shipboard fires, particularly on container ships, hit the headlines far too frequently, but new detection systems currently under development at SafetyTech Accelerator promise to alert mariners far more effectively and save valuable minutes that could make a vital difference in fire response, reports Seatrade Maritime.
Webinar
Fires on ships at sea can be catastrophic, leading to loss of life and vast structural damage that is the nightmare of many, especially marine insurers. Introducing a webinar on the subject yesterday, the UK P&I Club’s Director, Safety & Risk Management, Stuart Edmonston, said that there are ships being built today that will be commissioned in the months ahead with “fire detection systems that were designed 30, 35, 40 years ago”.
The TT Club’s Loss Prevention Managing Director, Mike Yarwood, stressed the fact that the unfortunate seafarers who are typically the first responders to these incidents have no control over the cargo that is stowed in containers – how it’s declared, how it’s packaged, stowed and secured. Ships’ crews are often left in the unenviable task of fighting the fire potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from further assistance.
Leading technologies
Corby detailed four of the leading technologies currently under development. Fibre optic linear heat detection has been used in other industries for some time. Rather than having sensors, the technology is based on a continuous line of fibre optic cable capable of detecting heat radiation very effectively.
A system installed around a single cargo hold on a ship deployed on a three-and-a-half month series of voyages had a test container capable of being heated to different temperatures located in the middle of the ship. Not only could the system detect temperature changes; it could also identify the exact position of the container in the hold.
Early detection of fires involving lithium ion batteries has particular significance for the maritime industry, as the fires increase in heat rapidly and emit large volumes of toxic gases which pose a threat to the health of seafarers.
SafetyTech’s ‘anchor partners’ which are participating in this programme include Evergreen, HMM, Maersk, the Offen Group, Ocean Network Express, and Seaspan.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime
