As the transport of potentially flammable cargo, such as lithium-ion batteries and alternative fuels, become more prevalent, the dangers of fires aboard vessels at sea persist. Survitec, a technology provider, released a new analysis showing an “alarming increase” in fire-safety-related maritime incidents.
Vessel fires are a leading cause of major shipping incidents and are among the costliest marine insurance claims. Metkel Yohannes, Director of Service & Rental Solutions at Survitec, said, “Analysts report a 17 percent year-on-year rise in shipboard fires, which correlates with an increasing number of reports and testimonies from our network of certified service technicians and engineers that document serious faults requiring immediate corrective measures.” In Survitec’s report, it notes that to cut costs, some shipowners and operators are maintaining and inspecting safety equipment themselves.
The company is calling for better industry oversight, entailing a review of current practice to determine if more governance and quality control procedures are required.