FIRE SAFETY: ACTIVE COOLING VERSUS PASSIVE INSULATION

New fire safety requirements, introduced by amendments to the International Maritime Organization SOLAS Convention, have had a significant impact on the complexity and costs of ro-ro fire-related upgradings. Doubts have been expressed about the "benefits" of the new insulation standards, in relation to the overall safety of ro/ro vessels. Alternatives to the application of insulation materials, as currently prescribed by SOLAS are being sought. The paper describes one such alternative which was adopted for the recent retrofit of two existing Dutch ferries. It utilised a novel firefighting agent known as "Pyrocol". This "active cooling" alternative won regulatory approval for the ferry upgradings.