Few people can imagine the devastating effects of a fire on a ship or recreational boat. Especially the often used GRP (glass fibre reinforced plastic) burns like tinder. In addition, a vessel is a highly complex system made up of many individual parts in which a minor fault can lead to critical outcome.
The causes of failure are manifold:
– an overloaded electric motor,
– wiring that is not sufficient for the increasing loads, or
– the ever-present corrosion that gnaws invisibly at all metals
….
Experts estimate that over 90% of fires on a ship are due to electrical faults. So it’s not the universally feared gas, as many sailors believe.
No matter where the fire comes from, professional prevention and knowledge of how to deal with a fire at sea is a life-saver. Professional crews in commercial shipping have to take a course every 5 years and refresh their knowledge.
My client from Spain has developed an offer for professional crews, which recreational boaters can also book. I had the unique opportunity to photograph the visual story of the course with some sweat on my brow. I learned a lot about how to prevent, avoid and extinguish fires.
Here are some shots from a trial course at the company’s premises:
