How are Cargo Ships Protected from Fire?

The Maersk Kensington recently suffered a fire below decks in the Gulf of Aden. This brings up an opportunity to talk about how your cargo is kept safe from fires. Container shipping by sea is one of the safest forms of shipping, but that doesn’t mean the unexpected is totally avoided. Ship fires may happen. When they do, they’re responded to like the crew of the Maersk Kensington did to theirs. When it comes to your cargo, a good logistics company should always have a plan in their back pocket no matter what.

Training and Equipment Stops Most Events

Why do ship fires happen? It can occur because of something wrong with the ship. Therefore, container vessels are checked bow to stern on every voyage. There are international laws about standards that must be met and what safety systems and safety equipment are on board. Crew training is also tightly regulated.

In addition to this, Port State Control of any country can perform an inspection of any vessel in their waters. They check specifically for safety, security, and equipment available in response to such emergencies.

Even so, sometimes a fire happens because a piece of cargo isn’t properly marked as hazardous. We discussed recently why ping pong balls are classified as hazardous cargo – because in large enough quantities the material they’re made from is combustible and can cause fires. There are many such goods that you wouldn’t expect to be a hazard, which is why these are tightly regulated as well.

Responses to the Unexpected

When a fire happens, there are considerable and redundant safety measures in place. On the Maersk Kensington, the alarm sounded, and the crew reacted according to procedure. CO2 was released into the cargo hold and the fire was quickly contained and stifled.

When this happens, all impacted customers are contacted directly. A good logistics company can respond accordingly. A good logistics company working for you will always have a Plan B in their back pocket that saves you time, money, and stress in the event of something unexpected. We should never be surprised, even if the event is rare and unpredictable. That said, container shipping by sea is incredibly safe, and tight international regulations mean that crews and their vessels are trained and equipped to deal with any emergency with a calm head.