Survitec calls for stricter fire safety checks
Survitec, a global provider of survival technology solutions, has issued a white paper calling for increased industry oversight in ship fire safety inspections due to a rise in ship detentions and losses from fires.
The paper, released at the Posidonia tradeshow, highlights a significant increase in fire-related deficiencies during port state control inspections, with fire being a major cause of shipping incidents and insurance claims. In 2022, the Paris memorandum of understanding recorded the highest level of fire safety deficiencies in a decade, while the corresponding document in Tokyo reported 15,562 deficiencies in 2023.
Survitec attributes the rise in deficiencies to cost-cutting measures post-covid, resulting in inadequate maintenance and inspections by shipowners and operators.
Metkel Yohannes, Survitec's director of service & rental solutions, cited cases of improper equipment maintenance, such as blocked firefighting systems and the use of incorrect parts. He stressed the need for accredited service partners and more stringent quality control to ensure compliance with Solas, the IMO, and the FSS code, especially with the new risks posed by alternative fuels and lithium-ion batteries. (pb)