Ship Fires: Emergency Response & Classes

• Responding to emergencies in case of fire involves understanding the different classes of fires and how to handle fire situations in various locations on a ship.

The 5 different Classes of Fires

• Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials like wood, cloth, paper, and plastic, and are extinguished with water or foam.
• Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases like petroleum greases and oils, and are extinguished with foam, dry chemical powder ("d.ch.p"), or gaseous fire suppression systems.
• Class C fires involve electrical components and machinery, needing d.ch.p or gaseous fire suppression systems.
• Class D fires involve metals like magnesium, titanium, sodium, lithium, and potassium, requiring dry powder agents.
• Class K fires involve cooking oils, fats and grease, requiring wet chemical agents.

General Advice for Fighting Fire at Cargo Space

• Never go into a compartment alone, always wear breathing apparatus, and ensure communications are established.
• Shuffle, do not walk, keep body weight on the heel of one foot, and keep the back of the hand in front of the face.
• Advance behind a spray curtain and reduce damage by directing jets of water toward the fire area.
• Regular checks for fire containment are essential.

Fire at Accommodation

• Accommodation fires generally involve Class A combustible materials.
• Raise the fire alarm and reduce ship space to limit oxygen supply.
• Mechanical ventilation should be closed and electrical circuits isolated.
• Surround the fire, attacking from many sides with fire hoses, closing fire and watertight doors, and approaching the fire with breathing apparatus.

Fire at Cargo Space

• The Officer On Watch (OOW) should raise the alarm and order the engine room to "stand by" and reduce vessel speed.
• Close ventilations to the fire area.
• Assess the situation and casualties, establishing cargo type, and commence boundary cooling, checking for additional risks.
• Injection of fixed CO2 or other fire fighting mediums may be necessary.
• Investigate the possibility of a port of refuge and inform shore authorities.

Fire at Engine Room

• Stop ventilation and fans to the engine room (E/R), and use remote stops for fuel oil.
• Use evacuated audible and visual alarms before CO2 use.
• Close all fire and watertight doors in the engine room, and open the designed CO2 bottles.

Fire at Port

• Raise the fire alarm, and the terminal should report the fire type and location to a control center.
• Shut down cargo operations and valves and close doors, hatches, and ventilation.
• The emergency team should attack the fire using normal extinguishing methods, with a backup team performing boundary cooling.
• An engine room team to prepare engine facilities.
• Pilots must be reported to evacuate the ship from port.
• Report to local fire service, port authorities, and traffic control, and ensure police, medical services, tugs and rescue launches are on standby.