Services Fire-fighting training essential UK’s Survitec is advising the maritime industry to ensure fixed fire-fighting systems are commissioned by their original equipment manufacturers and that crews undergo basic system configuration training, following a spate of incidents where ship fires have been exacerbated through incorrect use or installation of CO2-based extinguishing systems. While IMO’s FSS Code provides engineering and design standards for all types of fire extinguishing systems, there are no mandatory regulations governing their installation and commissioning, only recommendations. Standards on operation and maintenance have improved over the last years but in many cases, they are still seen as guidelines. Survitec said that although these guidelines should be followed, there have been several incidents in recent times where fixed fire extinguishing systems have failed. “While it is difficult to put a number on all the fire related incidents where incorrect installation, operation or maintenance of a fixed fire-fighting system has resulted in system failure, injury or death, the subsequent accident investigations offer a different perspective on the effectiveness of the current regulations and guidelines,” said Mats Hestmann, Survitec Group QHSE Manager. “Fire safety systems are inherently designed to protect and save lives. However, if these systems are incorrectly used, installed or insufficiently inspected and maintained, the consequences can be severe,” said Hestmann. Hestmann believes that it would be beneficial for MSC.1/CIRC 1318 to become even more structured as is the case with MSC 1432, clearly defining what should be inspected. Once the majority of flag states have adopted an MSC circular, it then becomes a resolution making it mandatory. As the market leader and a champion of maritime safety initiatives, Survitec is fostering greater fire safety and systems awareness across the industry. It has already issued advice notices and is raising wider awareness of the need to ensure fire-fighting systems are correctly installed, regularly maintained, serviced and that crew operating the systems are trained and understand how to use the specific system. “We want to ensure that operators and crews
have a much better understanding of how fixed fire-fighting systems operate and the importance of regular, properly carried-out maintenance. With greater knowledge, they will be able to overcome many of the operational challenges they face and prevent system failure when it is required in an emergency,” said Hestmann Meanwhile, Survitec has introduced a new service aimed at ensuring CO2 low pressure (LP) fire-fighting systems are correctly deactivated when ships enter lay-up. The turn-key CO2 LP lay-up service, developed in collaboration with a leading European-based shipowner, was introduced two-months-ago following market demand for a solution capable of simplifying decommissioning and recommissioning procedures. Survitec has already seen an upswing in demand for the service following a surge in the number of ships temporarily suspending services and deactivating ships due to the lack of trade. A CO2 LP system, typically used in a vessel’s fixed-fire extinguishing arrangement, can only be decommissioned and recommissioned by a specially trained service provider once the Classification Society has granted approval for the system to be deactivated and the tank emptied. Survitec has Z17 approvals as service suppliers – from various classification societies allowing the company to service maintain a vessel’s multi-branded fire-extinguishing systems, including CO2 LP systems. With shipowners unprepared for the rapid
and extended economic crisis the on-going pandemic has created, the shortfall in trade volumes is resulting in a need to protect revenues and scale back operations. For many, a cold lay-up is the best way of reducing overheads. Survitec is currently creating CO2 LP cold lay-up and re-activation procedures for some 10 vessels in a prominent ro/ro and PCTC fleet.
Seaspan’s experience with Ecoshield Over the past 10 years the rudders of 55 containerships owned by Canada’s Seaspan have been coated with Ecoshield. A number of vessels also had their thruster tunnels and twisted fins given the same treatment. One of these ships recently docked in Indonesia ten years after application. Only small touch-ups were needed on its rudder, much to the satisfaction of the owner. After the recent drydocking of the Seaspan New York its superintendent Chandrashekhar Singh commented, “In my 10 years of experience as superintendent I have never seen a rudder in such a good condition as when Ecoshield paint is applied. With this good experience, we have applied Ecoshield paint on the draft and load line marks and bow thruster tunnel as well.”
A low-pressure CO2 system can only be decommissioned/recommissioned by a specially trained service provider
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