The Vehicle Carrier Safety Association (VCSF) has released a new guide for fire drills aimed at enhancing fire safety on vehicle carriers. This guide provides ship operators with a practical framework for developing and conducting fire response drills with realistic scenarios.
Enhancing Fire Preparedness on Vehicle Carriers
The new guide is designed as a complement to the previous VCSF guide titled "Fire Response Guide - General Principles." This guide aids in strengthening fire preparedness on pure car carriers (PCC), vehicle carriers and pure car and truck carriers (PCTC), as well as RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels.
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The guide includes fire drills at sea and in port, covering scenarios from initial response on the ship to incidents requiring external assistance. It emphasizes the rapid deployment of fixed firefighting systems, effective coordination between the ship and shore, and preparation for specialized firefighting support, rescue, and port refuge planning.
The Role of Industry Collaboration in Improving Safety
Geir Jørgensen, Chairman of the IG P&I Ships Technical Committee, stated: "Collaboration in the industry is essential for improving fire safety. Realistic drills help ship and shore teams respond quickly and effectively, reducing the risk of fire spread."
Lyonel Charon, maritime advisor at the International Chamber of Shipping, also said: "This guide aims to provide a structured approach to conducting fire drills on ships. Given the additional challenges the industry faces, these drills help ensure that crews are better prepared for effective response."
Colin Gillespie, Chairman of the Vehicle Carrier Safety Association, explained: "We developed this guide because changing industry practices require more than just issuing guidelines - they must be practiced through realistic drills to be effective in emergencies. By assisting ship and shore teams in joint drills, our goal is to enhance better decision-making, coordination, and faster, more effective responses to fires on vehicle carriers, ultimately helping to save lives."
This guide is designed to be principle-based, providing operators with the necessary flexibility to tailor drills to their specific vessels.
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