Fire on board: why firefighting courses save lives?

Imagine: night, the deck damp from the salty breeze, but inside — smoke, a siren, and a team searching for fire in narrow corridors. A fire on a ship is not just a fire: it spreads rapidly in a confined space, disables ventilation and escape routes, can destroy electronics and control systems and — most importantly — threatens human life. That’s why fire-safety training on ships is not a formality but a very real skill that saves lives and vessels.

A few facts and statistics (to grasp the scale)

In 2022, more than 200 shipboard fires were recorded — the highest figure in a decade and a significant increase compared with previous years. Fires remain one of the leading causes of total losses of ships (≈11% of total-loss cases over the last decade).
Overall, the number of marine casualties and incidents remains high: annual reviews (e.g., EMSA) report thousands of events each year, with fires consistently a significant category.
In recent years, container fires have increased — due to the growth in shipments of lithium-ion batteries and misdeclared dangerous goods; industry reports periods when a container fire occurs every few days.

(These numbers are not abstract: every fire is a test for the crew, equipment, and procedures.)

Main causes of fires on board

Mechanical and fuel failures in the engine room (fuel leaks, overheating, sparks).
Hazardous or misdeclared cargoes (lithium-ion batteries, peroxides, flammables).
Electrical short circuits and wiring issues (especially on older vessels).
Human error and inadequate maintenance — fires most often start or escalate due to the human factor.

Why firefighting courses matter (specifically)

Rapid detection and containment — a trained crew knows the priorities (isolate power, close bulkheads/boundaries, activate extinguishing systems) and does so before the fire spreads. This significantly reduces the likelihood of a total loss.
Proper use of personal protective equipment — training with breathing apparatus (BA/SCBA) and working in smoke saves lives; lack of skills is one reason for fatalities or injuries during firefighting.
Knowledge of the ship’s firefighting systems — CO₂ systems, automatic sprinkler systems, detection and ventilation-shutoff systems have their specifics; incorrect use can worsen the situation (in a real case, equipment failure or misuse led to tragedy).
Coordination and teamwork under stress — drills and exercises (fire drills, scenario rehearsals) build the “muscle memory,” communication, and leadership needed in a real emergency.
Action plan and coordination with shore services — a sound extinguishing plan and clear roles minimize risks for the crew and responders. NTSB investigations have shown that insufficient preparation of port brigades also leads to complications.

Concrete examples that teach

Scenario-based exercises: practicing fires in the engine room, container holds, passenger decks.
Equipment practice: the ability to don and operate breathing apparatus, move in smoke-filled conditions, and navigate using tactile markers.
Case reviews: analysis of real incidents (e.g., NTSB investigations) to eliminate systemic weaknesses — from technical design to business processes.

Practical tips for masters and crews

Conduct real drills regularly (not just theory).
Check the serviceability of breathing apparatus and automatic firefighting systems; know the location of all CO₂ valves.
Have a clear coordination plan with port services and local firefighters; run joint drills so shore crews know the ship’s systems.
Tighten cargo control: pay special attention to batteries, chemicals, and proper declaration. This reduces the risk of container fires.

Conclusion

A fire on board is simultaneously a technical, organizational, and human problem. Fire-safety courses and regular practical drills don’t just save you from fines or inconvenience — they genuinely reduce the risk of loss of life and of ships. Investment in training is cheaper than the cost of a catastrophe, and it works: skill, discipline, knowledge of systems, and coordination with shore often form the thin line that separates a controlled incident from a tragedy.

Sources: Allianz — Safety and Shipping Review 2023, EMSA — Annual Overview of Marine Casualties and Incidents 2023, IMO — Fire protection (SOLAS II-2), Financial Times — Shipping industry enlists AI to tackle rising number of cargo fires, AP / NTSB — NTSB finds ‘failure’ in training before deadly Newark cargo ship fire, FireEngineering — Ship firefighting training for personnel, SQLearn — Fire protection and firefighting on ships.