NON ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION ON BOATS IS A CONCERN
Most marine insurance policies state that boats must have adequate fire protection says Sea-Fire’s Richard Duckworth.
But he says many boatbuilders are fitting the minimum protection they can get away with and crossing their fingers it will never be put to the test.
“For the last 20 years, major production boat builders have recognised they have a duty of care to protect their customers and to fit as standard a comprehensive engine room fire suppression system using fully tested and marine approved components,” says Richard.
“Unfortunately, this is not mirrored across all the industry.”
And he said safety and fire suppression should not be an afterthought in the build or refit process. Instead systems need to be designed specific to each boat as one size does not fit all.
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“In many ways, it is understandable that fire suppression on board is overlooked. The actual percentage of boat fires in relation to boat usage is very small,” he said. “However, as boats have become larger, the equipment fitted on-board has grown exponentially.
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RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.
RCR CITES LACK OF VESSEL MAINTENANCE AS REASON FOR INCREASING NUMBER OF CALL OUTS
River Canal Rescue (RCR) is urging boaters to pay more attention to vessel maintenance and safety following an increase in the number of call-outs for faults caused by what it describes as a general lack of maintenance.
In 2016, this amounted to 948 call-outs, in 2017 there were 1031 and in 2018 RCR had 1081 call-outs due to lack of maintenance and safety, together with continuing fires and CO poisoning incidents.
“Boaters who fail to maintain their vessels or pay attention to boat safety put themselves and others at risk,” said RCR operations director, Jay Forman.
RIVER CANAL RESCUE LTD
He said, “With rental costs spiralling across the UK, boats are a cheap accommodation option and so are increasing in popularity. Yet we find many boaters unfamiliar with even basic engine workings and therefore unlikely to pay attention to maintenance.”
He added: “This can cause a problem if a vessel moves from its mooring, breaks down and obstructs the waterway.”
And he said RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.
“It’s frightening when you think of the hazards on boats such as diesel, oils and combustible materials. The most common fires are electrical, engine space and solid fuel related so it’s vital boat owners pay attention to these areas,” explained Jay.
The Report • March 2019 • Issue 87 | 9
Marine News
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