Introduction, Safety and Principles
Introduction, Safety and Principles
The Fire Tetrahedron
Fire on board is a deadly hazard as there is nowhere else to go and the seafarer is trapped in the ship. The only solution is to attack the fire and extinguish it. If we are prepared for such a situation, lots of lives can be saved. Properly trained personnel on board can ensure fire accidents do not cause any calamity to life and property. Shipboard fire leads to injury or loss of life and property. Therefore the crew members have to be very conscious about the cause of fire and should be able to contain and fight it.
In case of a small intensity fire on ship, portable fire extinguishers or other handy means of extinguishing medium can be used. But in case, the intensity of fire is high or it is humanly impossible to control the fire, fire extinguishing system is used. Precautions should be taken after the fire is extinguished. All the doors, hatches, vents and other openings should be opened in order to ventilate the space properly, before any entry is made into the space. The space should not be approached with any type of open flame as it might contain flammable vapours, which can lead to fire or explosion.
The fire safety objectives are to:
- Prevent the occurrence of fire and explosion;
- Reduce the risk to life caused by fire;
- Reduce the risk of damage caused by fire to the ship, its cargo and the environment;
- Contain, control and suppress fire and explosion in the compartment of origin; and
- Provide adequate and readily accessible means of escape for passengers and crew.
If a fire on board ship is not tackled properly because of lack of knowledge, training and experience, it would result in a big tragedy resulting in loss of life and property. You need to gain some knowledge of fire fighting on deck.
As you joined the ship, at the entrance to accommodation, whether it is port or starboard side, there will be a fire wallet in prominently marked weather proof containers which has details about the following:
- One up to date copy of the ship’s Fire Control Plan.
- Cargo and Stability information.
- Updated Crew List.
One copy of above documents should also be kept on the bridge.
The cargo information shall be cargo data sheets, which show the physical and chemical properties of the cargo and the hazards they present, also of the action to be taken in the event of emergency.
As you carry out Loading, Discharging or carrying dangerous goods or flammable bulk cargoes, the pertinent fire fighting and emergency cargo handling instructions are contained in the following cargo carriage codes.
- International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code),
- Code of Practice for Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Cargoes (BLU Code)
- Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes
- International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk
- International Code for Safe Carriage of Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)
- International Code for Safe Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)
- International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
- Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing
You need to refer the relevant code for the relevant cargo and type of ship for fire fighting.
