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Suppression Systems News

24 Oct 2023

NTSB Urges USCG to Remove Subchapter K Exemptions for Fire Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard and other supporting agencies work to extinguish a fire on board Spirit of Norfolk in June 8, 2022. (Photo: Edward Wargo / U.S. Coast Guard)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended Tuesday that engine-room fire detection and fixed fire extinguishing systems be installed in small passenger vessels previously exempted from U.S. Coast Guard regulations in Subchapter K.The NTSB issued the recommendations after investigating an engine room fire aboard the Spirit of Norfolk during a sightseeing cruise near Naval Station Norfolk, Viriginia, on June 7, 2022, with 108 people on board. The fire was too large for the crew to fight, and the passengers and crew were evacuated to other vessels.

19 Jun 2023

Fire Out on Esperanza Star

Source: Philippine Coast Guard Facebook page

The Philippine Coast Guard has declared “fire out” on the ferry Esperanza Star after attending then scene when a distress call was made at 0400 on June 18. The vessel was sailing in the waters of Panglao, Bohol, with 78 passengers and 59 crew onboard when the fire broke out at the aft of the vessel. Those onboard are reported to be safe and without injury after being taken to Bohol.The vessel is operated by Kho Shipping Lines, and the company issued a statement thanking the personnel of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Bohol…

06 Jun 2023

Survitec Unveils Interactive Safety Monitoring Solution

Source: Survitec

Survitec has announced a new interactive safety management solution it hopes will substantially improve onboard safety.The Safety Management and Rapid Response Technology Interface (SMARR-TI) uses a graphical monitoring interface to integrate fire detection and fire suppression systems within one system.SMARR-TI, which Survitec developed in cooperation with Turkish shipyard Tersan and Norway’s Havila Voyages, is already in operation on a pair of 15,500gt passenger ships.SMARR-TI…

13 Apr 2023

US Coast Guard Announces Fire Safety Campaign for Small Passenger Vessels

Photo of Conception’s burned hull at dawn on Sept. 2, 2019, prior to sinking.
(Credit: Ventura County Fire Department)

The US Coast Guard has published Marine Safety Information Bulletin 05-23, Fire Safety on Small Passenger Vessels and announced a concentrated inspection campaign.The Bulletin encourages owners and operators to do a self-assessment of the fire safety of their vessels and provides a checklist evaluating fire safety and emergency preparedness on board.MSIB 05-23 also announces that the concentrated inspection campaign, which will focus on fire safety aboard small passenger vessels…

17 Mar 2023

Lessons Learned from the USS Bonhomme Richard Fire

Fire rages on board USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at Naval Base San Diego, July 12, 2020. (Photo: Austin Haist / U.S. Navy)

Shipboard fire a constant threat: Bonhomme Richard tragedy an enduring lesson in fire prevention, responseJuly 12, 2020 was a lazy Sunday morning at Naval Base San Diego. USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), which had been commissioned only two years earlier, had recently made the base its new homeport and was docked as it underwent a maintenance availability.But, the silence of that morning was rocked by an explosion a few minutes before 9 a.m., changing everything for the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.Below the decks…

28 Dec 2021

USCG Announces New Fire Safety Rules for Passenger Vessels

The 75-foot recreational diving vessel Conception was anchored in Platts Harbor off Santa Cruz Island when it caught fire in the early morning of Sept. 2, 2019. All 33 passengers and one of six crewmembers died of smoke inhalation after they were trapped in the berthing area while a fire raged on the deck above. Both exits from the berthing area led to the fire and smoke-filled enclosed area above. (Photo: Ventura County Fire Department)

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is issuing an interim rule as the first step to implementing the statutorily mandated requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels. This statutory mandate is in response to the fire and loss of life on the dive boat Conception off the coast of California on September 2, 2019. This interim rule adds additional fire safety requirements for small passenger vessels, including fire detection and suppression systems…

17 May 2021

Fire Put Out at Golden Ray Wreck Site

Multiple vessels cool the Golden Ray wreck using sea water on Saturday following a fire inside the wreck on Friday. (Photo: St. Simons Sound Incident response)

Engineers are assessing the condition of the Golden Ray wreck and salvage equipment after a fire ripped through the overturned and partially dismantled car carrier outside the Port of Brunswick, Ga. on Friday.The fire broke out on Friday afternoon aboard the Korean-owned Golden Ray, which has been aground on its side in the St. Simons Sound outside the nation's second largest car carrier port since it capsized shortly after departing the Port of Brunswick in September 2019.Firefighting…

08 Oct 2020

USCG Takes Delivery of First Upgraded 47' Motor Lifeboat

(Photo: Birdon America)

The U.S. Coast Guard recently accepted the Birdon America's first upgraded 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (47 MLB) at the agency's National Motor Lifeboat School (NMLBS) in Ilwaco, Wash., completing the first major milestone in the MLB Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The first article vessel will undergo a four-month operational assessment by members of NMLBS.The 47 MLB is the Coast Guard's standard lifeboat, designed to weather hurricane force winds and heavy seas, capable of surviving winds up to 60 knots, breaking surf up to 20 feet and impacts up to three Gs.

29 Sep 2020

Kidde Fire Systems Debuts Remote Monitoring Solution

(Image: Kidde Fire Systems)

Kidde Fire Systems has launched a real-time, cloud-connected remote monitoring solution for gaseous fire suppression systems. The IntelliSite system allows users to monitor the status of a portfolio of fire control units in real time across multiple locations.“With 24/7 information access, the IntelliSite system enhances safety and service levels for system end-users and can help reduce service calls, maintenance and administration costs for our valued distribution channel partners…

11 May 2020

TECH FILE: Gas Freeing Barges the Modern Way

Using nanotechnology to improve safety and efficiency.For as long as oil and petrochemicals have been in use by transportation, safely managing their highly flammable, toxic, and environmentally damaging vapors has been an ever present challenge. Even with increasing emphasis on safety procedures and better training, these invisible and dangerous vapors continue to result in the loss of life and property. But now, new nanotechnologies can provide safer and faster solutions that were not thought possible with conventional methods.

15 Feb 2018

Triple-screw Tug for the Hudson

(Photo: Cummins/Alan Haig-Brown)

“The Daisy Mae is the closest you can get to Z-drive maneuverability, without the cost of Z-drive,” maintains her builder Joseph Rodriguez of Rodriguez Ship Building Inc. in Bayou LaBatre, Ala. Rodriguez has designed and built a lot of tugs over the years and doesn’t make this claim lightly. Further more he backs it up with his description of the beamy 82 by 32-foot tug that his yard delivered to Coeymans Marine Towing. This is one of the Carver group companies based at the Port of Coeymans 110 miles up the Columbia River from New York.

13 Nov 2017

Marine Fuels: Unmasking Gas

A primer on the way forward for alternative fuels for marine propulsion. By now, many of us have been passed by a garbage truck, taken a ride on an airport bus or hailed a taxi cab that is clearly labeled by their respective marketing departments that these vehicles are powered by clean burning natural gas. Even now in our own maritime industry, some trendy operators are looking to make the case for liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion systems, others are opting for hybrid-electric solutions, and some are even aiming for full electric configurations.

13 Nov 2017

Marine Piping: It's Not Rocket Science

Anything but unconventional, Viega piping products and systems provide uncommon time savings and safer repairs, leading to a better bottom line. The maritime industry, over time, has been unusually resistant to change in many aspects of how it operates. Arguably, the ‘biggest’ advances on the water spanning a five decade period leading up to the beginning of the new millennium could be measured in terms of deadweight tonnage and/or the length of a particular class of hulls. Nowhere is that reality more evident than in the shipyard, and looking at what equipment and hardware is used to build and repair marine vessels – now and in the past. Marine piping systems are a perfect example.

09 Jun 2017

Darley Acquires Fireboy, Inc

From left: Peter Darley, Larry Akins and Paul Darley at the closing on June 6, 2017. (Photo: W.S. Darley & Co.)

W.S. Darley & Co. informs it has purchased the assets of Fireboy, Xintex and Aetna Engineering based in Grand Rapids, Mich., forming the new company Fireboy-Xintex, LLC. W.S. Darley & Co., headquartered in Itasca, Ill., has served the world’s fire and emergency services industry since 1908. The company has manufacturing, engineering and research and development operations are in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. and Janesville, Iowa. Founded in 1973, Fireboy is a developer of marine pre-engineered and custom engineered fire safety and suppression equipment.

30 Sep 2016

Fireboy-Xintex Brings New Tech to IBEX

Image: Fireboy-Xintex

Fireboy-Xintex said it will exhibit its latest technology developments at The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), including newly released carbon monoxide alarm system as well as a new series of fire suppression systems. At IBEX, to be held October 4-6, 2016 at the Tampa Convention Center, Fireboy-Xintex is releasing its new CMD5-M Carbon Monoxide Alarm, which features an electrochemical sensor, compact design and a version that requires no external power to be fully functional.

06 Sep 2016

Elcome Opens Calibration Lab and Repair Facility

Photo: Elcome

Elcome International has established a new calibration lab and electronics component repair facility at its worldwide headquarters in Dubai. The calibration and electronics repair services are operated by Navicom Calibration LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elcome. Navicom is providing a full range of calibration and certification services for critical portable instruments and fixed systems. The operation is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Dubai Accreditation Center and the quality management systems are certified by DNV GL to ISO 9001:2008.

19 Feb 2016

Kidde Fire Systems Introduces New Monitors

Kidde Fire Systems  launched a new control head monitor (CHM) for electric actuators and solenoid monitors for directional valves. The new CHM is fully compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2001-2012 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems and is designed for simple installation on existing Kidde systems. According to the company, electric actuators are commonly used as activating devices for the release of a fire suppression agent in the event of a fire and the NFPA requires these devices to be in place and ready to activate.

28 Dec 2015

WSF Orders Fourth Olympic Class Ferry

The second Olympic class ferry, M/V Samish, undergoing sea trials in April 2015. (Photo: WSF)

Washington State Ferries (WSF) will start 2016 with construction of a new Olympic Class ferry, after signing a Notice to Proceed last week with shipbuilder Vigor Industrial for work on its fourth 144-vehicle ferry. Construction begins in January, with delivery scheduled for mid-2018. Along with the Tokitae, Samish and Chimacum, the fourth Olympic Class ferry is part of a series built to replace four of the state’s oldest ferries built during the 1950s and 1960s. “Our top priority is keeping the ferry system safe and reliable for the millions of commuters…

26 Oct 2015

Marine Firefighting at Sea: Training to Survive

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Emergency Services Training Institute

Fire onboard a boat or ship is generally considered the most dangerous situation on the water. While advances in technology have helped to mitigate risk, consistently investing to upgrade a crew’s firefighting training, skills and equipment is the best means to keep crew, ship and cargo safe if disaster strikes. While innovative new fire-resistant materials and advanced fire suppression equipment onboard ships and boats has helped to improve fire security, technology alone is not a one-stop security blanket in the quest to keep crew and ship free from harm in the case of a fire.

12 May 2015

Offshore Workboat Fire Safety

A Novec 1230 gas suppression system provides a unique, Class-compliant and effective margin of safety for an offshore dive support vessel. Despite the recent drop in oil prices, the marine sector remains extremely busy supporting the oil industry, and this will always remain the case. The squeeze on contractual pricing and labor is a recent issue caused by that drop in oil prices. Fortunately, the sector is led by legislation in the form of IMO/SOLAS regulations and respective Flag State requirements which are controlled by regulatory authorities such as DNV…

03 Feb 2015

IMO implements new SOLAS fire protection requirements for on-deck cargo areas

Photo courtesy of the International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced new requirements for the fire protection of on-deck cargo areas. The new requirements, which will be added to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, apply to all ships designed to carry containers that are constructed on or after January 1, 2016. The new regulations stipulate that new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck shall be fitted with at least one water mist lance, and that ships designed to carry five or more tiers of containers on or above the weather deck must be fitted with mobile water monitors.

10 Dec 2014

Kidde Fire Goes Multi-Lingual on its ARIES NETLink

Kidde Fire Systems announced the launch of a multi-language version of the ARIES NETLink Multi-Loop Intelligent Fire Alarm-Suppression Control Unit, which now supports French, Spanish and Portuguese, in addition to English. Kidde Fire Systems, a world leader in the development of fire detection and suppression systems, is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Designed for a broader, non-English speaking audience and for use where UL/FM-listed products are accepted, the new ARIES NetLink enables Kidde channel partners to interact with and configure the control unit in the language of their region.

25 Nov 2014

Fire Departments Choose Sea-Fire Systems

Metalcraft Marine's Firestorm high-speed, aluminum fireboat represents a new generation in vessel technology, especially when fitted with Sea-Fire H Series engineered fire suppression systems. Recently, four fire departments selected this combination. The City of Alexandria, Virginia now has a Firestorm 50 fitted with Sea-Fire's H Series. Captain Rodney Masser's positive prior experience with Sea-Fire led him to this decision. "Sea-Fire systems came highly recommended by the boatbuilder," said Masser. "We have been very satisfied with Sea-Fire Systems equipment and service.