It almost seems ironic to have a fire at sea. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water surrounding you can make a fire seem like an insignificant risk that can be easily dealt with. But fire safety at sea is crucial to know, as one of the worst things that can happen is being trapped on the open ocean with a fire burning, no way to stop it and help potentially miles away on land.
So here is a guide to fire safety at sea.
Keeping Safe From Fire At Sea
Ships should be designed to help aid evacuation in the prevention of a fire, with elements such as carpets contained and made from materials that will not catch fire. Like with any building, there should be fire extinguishers readily available, and stored at convenient places that are easily accessible. You should never be more than one minute away from a fire extinguisher. The best place to put extinguishers is near exits or by the place a fire is more likely to break out.
Along with extinguishers, fire blankets are a great way to smother fires easily. Most ship fires usually happen in the galley, with oil and gas usually being the main cause. Make sure your galley has adequate fire protection and that all the exits are easily accessible and never locked. You should keep your engine well maintained, as fire can also easily break out here. Engine fires can be hard to put out due to the higher amount of fuel involved.
If a fire breaks out and it seems like you may not be able to contain it, it’s important to send a mayday immediately and activate your Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon to alert search and rescue to your position.
Evacuation Methods
Sometimes it is not possible to deal with a fire that gets out of control, so your vessel must have adequate life-saving appliances in place. There should be enough life jackets for the maximum number of people on your vessel, while lifeboats and liferafts can also be helpful to evacuate your vessel and get to safety. Boats and rafts should be equipped with a survival kit, with helpful equipment such as flares, water, smoke signals and food.
Fire Risk Assessment For The Marine Division
If you operate a seaworthy vessel for your business, you need to make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality, even a fire. Get in touch with EK Fire Protection today for fire safety risk assessments for all types and sizes of vessels. We’ll inform you of what you need to do to keep safe at sea and offer safety equipment to help you. This includes fire alarms, fire extinguishers, signage and emergency lighting.
So get in touch today on 01304 210909 to book your fire safety risk assessment for your vessel. To find out more about the solutions and services we offer, visit our website now for more information.
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