Every year we unfortunately see many ship fires with disastrous consequences. Cargo, ships and, in the worst cases, human lives are lost, and fires can cause major environmental disasters. New figures from DNV, experts in risk management, certification and consulting in the maritime industry, show that the number of fires and explosions on ships rose by 18 per cent in 2024. Since 2014, the increase has been as much as 58 per cent. The figures emphasize that the shipping industry needs to improve safety and make a major effort to prevent fires. I don’t think shipping companies can afford not to, and it only requires a small investment to secure their ships, equipment and crew.
In most cases, the solution is quite simple – and cheap. The majority of fires can be prevented by installing measuring equipment that sounds the alarm before fires occur, but relatively few ships still have this type of equipment, even though the technology has been on the market for several years. Among others, the Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) Programme recommends that unattended spaces with a risk of high-pressure oil leaks should be equipped with oil mist detectors. However, far from all of these ships have the equipment on board, and this is a major safety issue that the entire industry should take much more seriously
Today, flame detectors and smoke detectors are required, but these only sound the alarm when there is already a fire that may have already got out of control. More advanced equipment, however, can prevent a fire from starting in the first place.
There is every reason to be vigilant. Official industry figures show that 163 ships in the world fleet experience engine room fires each year, but the actual number is significantly higher. In the industry, the number is said to be probably around 500.
It’s hard to understand why measuring equipment is not fitted on all container ships, tankers, cruise ships, ferries and other types of ships carrying goods and people. In many cases, a ship fire costs millions of dollars and in some cases the ship cannot be saved. Engine room fires often cause ships to be laid up for a longer period.
Fires often occur in engine rooms where the three elements of the fire triangle are represented (fuel, oxygen, heat) and where pressurized oil can form oil mist, which is the most common cause of fire. Many fires occur because the crew doesn’t realize there’s a leak until it’s too late. However, if they have an oil mist detector that detects oil mist that crews can neither see nor smell, the alarm is raised well before the situation becomes critical and cargo, ship and lives are lost
I believe that the lack of attention to safety at sea is due to ignorance of the many possibilities to prevent fires, but everyone should work towards safer and more secure shipping. Shipping companies have a vested interest in protecting their assets and not least their employees. Perhaps it’s time for the authorities to increase the requirements so that we start looking more at prevention. And what about the insurance companies? Why don’t they demand that shipping companies protect the enormous value of goods and ships
I would like to encourage everyone in the industry to work together to increase safety at sea. This will undoubtedly reduce the risk of loss of value and human life, as well as the risk of environmental disasters.
Source: CEO Rene B. Christensen, Green Instruments
