Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum publishes new Fire Drill Guidelines for Vehicle Carrying Vessels

The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum (VCSF) has published new Fire Drill Guidelines for Vehicle Carrying Vessels, providing vessel operators with a practical framework for developing and conducting realistic, scenario-based fire response drills.

Complementing the VCSF’s existing Fire Response – High Level Guidelines, the new guidance is designed to strengthen preparedness for vehicle fires on Pure Car Carriers (PCCs), Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels.

The guidelines cover fire drills both at sea and in port, with scenarios ranging from initial onboard response through to incidents requiring external assistance. They place particular emphasis on early deployment of fixed firefighting systems, effective ship–shore coordination and preparing for specialist firefighting support, salvage and port of refuge planning.

Geir Jorgensen, Chair of the IG P&I Ships’ Technical Committee, said: “Industry collaboration is essential to improving fire safety. Realistic drills help ship and shore teams prepare to respond quickly and effectively, reducing the risk of a fire escalating”.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →