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Prominent members from Bluewater’s training schools in Antibes and Palma recently attended the 84th International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST) Meeting, where industry leaders gathered to discuss advancements in maritime safety. One of the standout presentations at the event was delivered by Capt. Joris van Vuuren and Ron Damstra from the Dutch Safety Board’s Maritime Department. Their session, titled "Lessons Learned from Ship Evacuations Following Onboard Fires at Sea," provided invaluable insights into past incidents and the crucial lessons that can enhance safety at sea.
As an independent safety authority operating under IMO and EU regulations, the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) plays a vital role in investigating maritime incidents to improve safety in the Netherlands. Unlike law enforcement agencies, the DSB operates under the Dutch Kingdom Act, ensuring a neutral approach that protects all involved parties. Given the Netherlands’ small size, the DSB’s multimodal scope extends across aviation, rail, and maritime sectors. Their objective is to learn from accidents without assigning blame, focusing instead on preventing future occurrences.
The importance of these investigations is underscored by the severe consequences of onboard fires, which can lead to loss of life, total vessel loss, and environmental pollution. The presentation examined three major incidents, each offering critical insights into ship evacuations and onboard fire management:
1. Escape – Fire on Dutch Container Ship – February 22, 2023 (Gulf of Riga, Latvia)
A fire broke out aboard a Dutch container ship in the Gulf of Riga. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire, but the ship’s power supply failed, cutting off lighting and disabling the fire pump. Without electricity, firefighting efforts became impossible. Given the worsening situation, the captain made the decision to evacuate. The entire crew was safely picked up by a nearby cargo ship that was already en route to provide assistance. This incident underscores the critical importance of redundancy in power systems and the need for emergency preparedness when fire suppression capabilities are compromised.
2. Felicity Ace – February 16, 2022
The Felicity Ace was a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship transporting 3,965 vehicles from Germany to the United States. On February 16, 2022, a fire broke out in the cargo hold while the vessel was approximately 200 miles off the Azores. All 22 crew members safely abandoned ship and were rescued by the Portuguese Navy. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, but reports suggest that lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles on board may have contributed to its intensity. The vessel ultimately sank on March 1, 2022, leading to the loss of high-end vehicles from brands such as Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, and Lamborghini.
3. Fremantle Highway – July 25, 2023
The Fremantle Highway, a car carrier transporting a mix of internal combustion and electric vehicles from Germany to Egypt, caught fire off the coast of the Netherlands. The high-expansion foam system was activated and initially worked, but the fire spread rapidly from car to car within seven minutes. Electric vehicle fires pose unique challenges, as they can take days or even weeks to fully extinguish. When the foam supply ran out, the fire remained uncontrolled, forcing the crew to abandon ship. One key takeaway from this incident is that conventional firefighting methods are inadequate for electric vehicle fires, highlighting the urgent need for updated training and response strategies.
While these incidents occurred on commercial vessels, the lessons learned are highly relevant to the yachting industry. Even on board yachts, the risk of onboard fires, particularly those involving lithium batteries, is increasing. Bluewater has observed a rise in lithium battery-related fires, which require specialised firefighting approaches and awareness. Crew members must be equipped to recognise and respond to these risks effectively, ensuring passenger and vessel safety.
At Bluewater, we remain dedicated to providing world-class safety training that evolves alongside industry challenges. The insights gained from this IASST session will be integrated into our training programmes to better prepare crew members for real-world emergency scenarios. By staying at the forefront of maritime safety developments, we ensure that seafarers are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to onboard fires and other critical incidents.
