Fire Detection & Fire-Fighting Systems

Fire main & fire pumps

The pressurised seawater pipeline running the length of the ship, fed by dedicated fire pumps, with hydrants at intervals — the basic water supply for fighting any fire on board.

Emergency fire pump

A separate fire pump installed outside the engine room with its own power and sea suction, so the ship can still fight a fire even when the engine room itself is burning and its pumps are lost.

Fire detection & alarm system (FDAS)

A fixed network of approved detectors, alarms and control equipment that detects fire in the spaces required for coverage and identifies the affected section or detector as prescribed. Spaces with little or no fire risk may be excluded.

Fixed CO2 system

Banks of carbon-dioxide cylinders that can flood an engine room or cargo hold with CO2, smothering a fire by displacing oxygen. Release is deliberate and alarmed, because the gas is lethal to anyone still inside.

Local application water mist (machinery)

Nozzle clusters aimed directly at fire-prone machinery — engines, purifiers, boiler fronts — that spray fine water mist onto a fire at its source without shutting down the whole engine room.

Accommodation sprinkler / water mist

Automatic sprinkler or fine-mist heads throughout cabins and public spaces that discharge water on the heat of a fire, holding it down until people escape and crews respond — mandatory on passenger ships.

Deck foam system

A foam plant with monitors along the deck of oil and chemical tankers that blankets a burning cargo area with foam, sealing the fuel surface from the air that flames need.

Dry powder system

Pressurised powder units on gas carriers that shoot dry chemical at gas fires around the manifold and deck — powder can knock down a gas flame that water and foam cannot.

Water spray / deluge system

A fixed water-spray system on gas carriers that cools exposed cargo-related structures, helps prevent fire spread and protects personnel at designated locations during a fire.

External fire-fighting (FiFi)

Large engine-driven pumps and rooftop monitors that let a tug or offshore vessel throw thousands of tonnes of water per hour onto a fire aboard another ship or platform.

Fire dampers & remote closing

Closable flaps in every ventilation duct, operable remotely, that cut the air supply to a burning space — starving the fire and stopping smoke spreading through the duct system.

Quick-closing valves & remote fuel shut-off

Remotely operable shut-off valves fitted to the fuel-oil tank outlet piping covered by SOLAS, allowing each applicable valve to be closed from a safe position outside the machinery space.

Fire door control system

The release system for self-closing fire doors on passenger ships: doors normally held open close automatically or on bridge command, dividing the ship into fire zones.

Fixed gas detection

Permanently installed sensors in cargo areas, machinery and fuel spaces that continuously sniff for flammable or toxic gas and alarm long before concentrations become dangerous.

Cargo hold smoke sampling detection

A detection method for cargo holds: small pipes continuously draw air from each hold to a central cabinet where smoke is detected — and the same pipes can then flood that hold with CO2.

Breathing-air compressor and cylinder-charging system

A high-pressure compressor producing clean breathing air to refill the cylinders of firefighters' breathing sets, so air supply never limits a prolonged firefighting effort.

Portable fire-extinguishing appliances

The hand extinguishers and portable foam applicators placed throughout the ship — the first-response tools for the person who discovers a fire while it is still small.

Firefighter outfits and SCBA equipment

The protective suits, helmets, boots and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that let designated crew enter heat and smoke to fight a fire directly.

Oil tankers

Chemical tankers

LNG carriers

LPG, ethylene, ethane, ammonia, CO2, hydrogen and gas-bunkering carriers

Bulk carriers and specialised dry-bulk carriers

General and specialised break-bulk cargo ships

Multipurpose, open-hatch, deck, heavy-lift and heavy-transport ships

Container ships

Ro-ro cargo and vehicle carriers

Refrigerated cargo ships

Fishing vessels, factory trawlers and live-fish carriers

Cruise and passenger ships

Ro-ro passenger ferries

PSV, AHTS, OSV/SOV and CTV

Cable, pipe, diving, subsea construction, WTIV and intervention vessels

Drillship, FPSO, FSO, FSU, FLNG and FSRU

Dredgers and hopper dredgers

Tugs, ERRV/standby, pilot and search-and-rescue craft

Research, hydrographic, seismic and icebreaking vessels

Large yachts and superyachts

Patrol and government service vessels