Since fire on board is very dangerous and Shore Professional Fire Brigade can not be call at sea, fire prevention is vital on ships. Fire fighting arrangement to be well maintained on ships. Fire prevention included regular fire drills on board with proper training. 

Prevention of Fire on Ships

Cleanliness

1. No oils, oily rags and wastes should allow in the vicinity of the heat source such as the places of (Boiler, Heaters and M/E exhaust system). They are liable to ignite spontaneously.
2. No oil leak should be tolerated such as from oil tank’s trays and drip pan, fuel and lube oil separator’s trays, fuel and lube oil valves, oil burners and piping connection.
3. Tank top and bilges should be cleaned and hose down frequently. Cleaning could be done with some chemical if oil is accumulated considerably.
4. Tank tops and bilges should be painted white and these place illuminations to be provided.

Heat Sources

1. No naked lights and smoking should be allowed inside the engine room and near the bunker.
2. Paint should be stored in special well ventilated stored away from machinery space or heat source and automatic water sprinkler system to be provided as per regulation.
3. Welding practice should be done only in workshop and away from combustible material storing spaces carefully, then all the protective cloths to be put on and earthing should be ensured.

Fire Fighting Appliances

Should be kept in working order:

1. All portable extinguishers and semi portable one to be ensured in good working order and properly placed inside the machinery space and always made handy.
2. Fixed fire fighting installation should be test once a week and it’s maintenance to be done periodically such as compress air blowing of lines and discharge nozzle and alarm testing and function testing. The contents inside the unit to be weighed or checked periodically.
3. Emergency fire pump should be kept in good working order and test run to be done weekly without any failure.
4. Fire detection, monitoring alarm system to be tested to weekly without any failure.
5. All fire hydrants and their connection should be kept in very good order also to the sandboxes and scoop.
6. Fire men outfits two numbers should be also kept in good order and handy at all time.
7. International shore connection should be placed at proper location and to be in good order.
8. All engine room members should be properly educated about fire fighting appliances and their operation.
9. Fire drill should be carried out at least once a month.

Action When Fire Break Out on Ships

Small Fire

Find the origin of fire, inform to chief engineer and all engine room member, restrict fire to prevent spread out if possible and extinct it on the spot with portable extinguisher or by another means. (In practice, as soon as, noticing of the break out of fire, the fire alarm or emergency alarm must be activated before taking any action.)

Big Fire

1. Sound fire alarm system.
2. Evacuate all ship crew, count them and assign as per muster list.
3. Remote stopping of all fuel pump to be done.
4. Remote closing of all quick closing valves to be done.
5. Remote closing of skylight door and engine all watertight door to be done.
6. Remote closing of all engine room ventilation damper to be done.
7. Prime mover and all machinery to be stopped.
8. All engine room entry and exit door to be closed perfectly.
9. All ventilation fan in engine room to be stopped manually.
10. Fixed fire fighting installation system to be operated by C/E or 2/E in a very proper manner. See Operation of CO2 Flooding System.

Reference:

Oral Guide by – MIN ZAR TAR