Fires at sea might not be as common as other risks, but they tend to cost marine companies much more than other types of claims.
According to the 2023 Nordic Marine Insurance Statistics (NoMIS), despite only accounting for 2.7% of all claims, fire and explosion claims accounted for 27% of the total claims cost distribution. This is nearly double the previous year’s figure of 15%.
The latest International Union of Marine Insurance report confirmed that fires are the leading cause of losses at sea, as they have been for the past 10 years.
In this post we will discuss the leading causes of fires at sea, and explore some ways you can safeguard your marine business against this risk.
Where Are Fires at Sea Most Likely to Break Out?
Fires at sea are most likely to break out in areas where fuels and other flammable materials are close to sources of heat.
This might include:
- Engine rooms
- Pump rooms
- Cabins
- Galleys
- Boilers
- Generators
- Cargo holds and storage spaces
- Incinerators
- Chain lockers
According to UK P&I Club, the majority of fires at sea start in ship engine rooms.
What Are The Leading Causes of Fire at Sea?
Most fires at sea start when a flammable substance falls onto a hot surface. In an engine room, this can occur when oils or fuel mists spray onto unprotected hot surfaces. In a cabin room, it could occur when a crew member accidentally leaves an electrical device plugged in, which can lead to overheating and fire outbreaks.
The Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2023 revealed that the most serious fires can be traced to combustible cargo, which can quickly spread until it overwhelms the crew’s firefighting capabilities. Plus, certain materials may reignite spontaneously even after the fire appears to have been extinguished.
Combustible cargos can include scrap metal and self-heating fuels such as coal and DRI. Fires can start when cargo or containers are damaged or compromised, such as during a storm, or due to bad stowage. Lithium-ion batteries may also overheat and cause fires if they are damaged. This may pose a particular risk for roll-on/roll-off ferries transporting electric or hybrid vehicles.
The Allianz review also suggested that the size of the vessel can determine the severity of the fire. The bigger the ship, the harder it can be for crews to detect fires. By the time crews are able to respond to outbreak, the fire may have already spread too far for them to handle.
Plus, emergency responses and salvage operations become more complex with larger fires on larger vessels, which can make declarations of total loss more likely.
How to Prevent Fires at Sea
- Stay on top of maintenance and repairs, to prevent the risks of fires breaking out due to faulty wirings, mechanical failures, and electrical issues.
- Also ensure that your vessel’s fire detection and suppression systems are always in full working order.
- Provide adequate crew training, and run regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows what they will need to do in the event of a fire.
- Also brief your crew on fire prevention measures – i.e. not keeping electrical items plugged in, smoking regulations, correct stowage procedures etc.
Make Sure You Are Covered For Fires at Sea
Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited. We can help you ensure you have the insurance you need to cover you for fires at sea, including incidents that result in total loss.
Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.