Water Mist Systems News

A new fire safety study by survival technology solutions provider Survitec finds that existing fire-fighting methods used to extinguish machinery space spray and pool fires on conventionally fueled vessels are inadequate when dealing with methanol-based fires.This follows extensive comparative fire tests on dual-fuel marine engines using diesel oil and methanol.“Our tests confirm that traditional water mist fire suppression mechanisms do not perform as expected on methanol pool fires and methanol spray fires.

Survival Technology solutions provider Survitec has won a contract to supply advanced fire-fighting systems to a pair of 48,000grt LNG dual-fuelled eco ferries under construction at Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions  (RMC) for Australian shipowner Spirit of Tasmania."This is a major order from a returning customer,” said Michal Peruga,  General Manager, Survitec, Poland. “This contract win demonstrates our  ability to go beyond simple equipment supply to being able to provide a  complete bespoke fire safety solution for all areas of the ship…

Water mist systems are extensively used as fire protection of machinery spaces onboard passenger ships, and have almost taken over as fire extinguishing systems after IMO standardized such systems. Water mist systems are documented through full scale fire testing of the manufacturers' solutions. In practice it has been shown that in spaces with a ceiling height above approximately 10m it is necessary with more water mist nozzles to extinguish low seated fires. The IMO-method that describes the test procedures requires that all nozzles are mounted at ceiling level…

Within the last year, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has issued several port state control (PSC) detentions due to inoperative water mist systems on vessels trading to the US. In nearly every case, the water supply valve was found to be in the closed position during the PSC examination, essentially making the water mist system “not readily available for immediate use.” In many of the cases, the Chief Engineer was not aware that the water supply valve was in the closed position and was left in the closed position during maintenance.

The Club advises of US PSC detentions of vessels where water mist systems have been found disabled or otherwise left in an inoperable condition. The detentions follow inspections by Port State Control (PSC) where the system water supply valve has been found in the “closed” position, deeming the system 'not readily available for immediate use' in the event of an Engine Room fire. This valve is often closed to prevent accidental operation during maintenance and not returned to the open position once maintenance is completed. It is advised that the regular checks of the Water Mist System are carried out to ensure proper valve alignment. In addition, it is advised that proper labeling and procedures are established to ensure that the valve is not overlooked and accidently left closed.

Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions acquires speialist in water-mist technology, Novenco Fire Fighting A/S. “The acquisition of this niche player in water mist technology further strengthens our safety portfolio, taking us an important step closer to becoming the world’s leading fire fighting provider in the maritime and offshore industries” says Petter Traaholt, President Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS). NFF is purchased from a private equity fund managed by Dania Capital. NFF exports over 90% of its products to customers in more than 26 countries; its main markets are Asia, followed by Europe and the US. This customer portfolio will expand WTS’ customer base for safety applications in cruise and yacht particularly.

It could be argued that running an efficient, safe and profitable ship repair yard is one of the most difficult of all maritime jobs. First and foremost, unpredictability – in terms of planned and actual workload, as well as the very nature of the job themselves – is a recurring theme. Maintaining experienced staff in times good and bad; keeping ahead of evolving regulations, as they pertain to the local environment and the global ship market; and weathering the inevitable influx of cut-rate competition from emerging nations are but a sampling of the issues ship repair managers face every day.

Securiplex, LLC, a manufacturer of Water Mist systems (a green alternative technology to gaseous fire suppression systems such as CO₂, FM200, or Novec 1230), located in Mobile, Ala. recently received both an ABS and a U.S. Coast Guard certification for its high pressure Water Mist system to protect spaces up to 3000 m3.  Securiplex had already received certification for SOLAS required Local Application Systems.  Securiplex systems have been installed in a number of U.S. commercial and Navy vessels.  The systems are totally designed and manufactured in the U.S.    www.securiplexllc.com