A Carnival Cruise Ship has been stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for almost a week. There are over 4,000 people on board. The ship became stranded at sea after a ship fire occurred in the engine room.
The fire resulted in the ship’s electrical power shutting down and taking out the sanitary systems. Sewage has been seen in the hallways of the ships. Rooms are flooded and people are having trouble receiving adequate amounts of food.
Raw sewage and spoiled food can put cruise occupants at risk of food poisoning such as E. Coli bacteria and salmonella.
Ship fires are devastating, especially for passenger ships because it is difficult to safely evacuate people out at sea. It is also dangerous when a ship carries inflammable cargo such as drummed gasoline and oils.
In other words, the most disastrous ship fires are the ones that result in loss of property and life.
To prevent tragedy and high recovery expenses, it is important that ships have proper fire protection and fire detection systems installed. Ships should also follow Non-combustible construction regulations, which is a major part of fire safety regulations for passenger ships.
Ship fires are a major threat to property and life. Why? There are limited ways to successfully fight off a fire onboard. This is why preventive measures are crucial components of ship fire safety.
Ship fires occur when three elements are present – fuel oil (such as diesel oil or lubricating oil), air, and a heat source (such as hot oil or an electrical short circuit).
Follow these preventive measures for the best ship fire safety:
- Have portable fire extinguishers available on every level of the ship.
- Have fixed gas fire extinguishing systems and fixed foam fire extinguishing systems. Fixed gas fire extinguishers are especially important to have in the purifier room of the engine room because it is the most probable area for a ship fire. Water mist and CO2 work the best for purifier room fire protection.
- Automatic Sprinklers, fire detection and fire alarm systems should be installed to provide early warnings to ship occupants.
- Have a Fixed deck foam system to assist in fire fighting for cargo space such as a CO2 flooding system. The CO2 flooding system includes smoke detectors, alarm systems, and CO2 cylinders.
- Design a safe means of escape in key areas such as the engine room to prevent loss of life.
Learn about Fireline Corporation’s Fire Protection Systems, Fire Extinguishers, and Fire Protection Services/ Solutions today!
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Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/14/travel/cruise-ship-fire/index.html?sr=fbmain
http://www.iklimnet.com/hotelfires/shipfiresafety.html
http://www.marineinsight.com/misc/maritime-law/what-is-fire-safety-system-fss-code-on-ships/
http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/what-to-do-in-case-of-purifier-room-fire/
http://www.marineinsight.com/misc/marine-safety/fire-fighting-co2-system-for-cargo-holds/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/13/travel/cruise-ship-fire/index.html