Conference on Preparedness and Response to Electrical Fires in Ships

The conference was organised by the Icelandic Transport Agency and was held in collaboration with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eimskip, DNV, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the Westmanney Fire Brigade, the Icelandic Accident Prevention Society, Landsbjörg Housing and Infrastructure Agency, the Icelandic Coast Guard, the Smyril Line and a number of other parties in Iceland.

Rapidly increasing energy exchange in vehicles has created challenges, such as fires in batteries that are different from fires caused by oil and other energy sources. The conference revealed, among other things, that effective ways of controlling fires of this kind are being developed.

The North has learnt lessons from fires in electric ships in Iceland (Ytterøyningen and Brim) including the risks of using carbon fluoride extinguishing agents in such fires. Representatives from Smyril line presented their measures and preparedness for ferries on their behalf, among other things. The involvement of insurance companies and their requirements for electric ship equipment was also discussed. The use of freshwater in firefighting was also discussed and finally, the EMSA representative spoke about the future challenges that energy exchange poses.

The lecturers agreed that collaboration on knowledge sharing is the best way to succeed. Representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and others expressed their satisfaction with the initiatives taken by Iceland with the organisation of the conference. Maritime authorities in Europe and elsewhere would be encouraged to continue paying close attention to the safety of ships in a new world of energy exchange.

Video recording from the conference