Ship safety and fire prevention of paramount importance for vessels at sea. Necessary due diligence is required for extensive implementation fire safety plans. This routine activity should be scheduled each month at a specific date. Crew members should be alert at all times and report all safety discrepancies to the higher management without delay.
Here are some of the guidelines for fire-safety and fire-prevention for cargo ships
- Guard the ship’s engine room against oil spills and other flammable hazards.
- Make sure that the fire safety plan is available on board and the equipment/appliances are kept at designated places. Ship crew should be trained to operate portable and fixed systems.
- All fire prevention appliances like smoke and heat detectors and firefighting appliances should be properly serviced at regular intervals as per the scheduled dates. All equipment should be fully operational at all times.
- Ship’s generator room should be guarded against leakage from fuel.
- Management should ensure that the ship’s crew has undergone extensive training, certification, drills and scenarios for emergency situations including evacuation of a ship. Extensive internal and external training as per SOLAS guidelines should be diligently followed.
- Crew should practice safe ship management programs and know their respective roles in case of a fire related emergency.
- Necessary precaution should be taken while loading and off-loading flammable cargoes.