Safety first and foremost DNV GL is constantly updating its rules to ensure that fire prevention and fire-fighting arrangements are sufficient for the equipment installed. For example, its fire safety rules were recently updated to cover the increased use of non- metallic piping in engine rooms, as a result of the introduction of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.
That’s not all. DNV GL recently introduced a new class notation F(M-P) aimed at engine room fire prevention through barrier management. Dirix acknowledges that this class notation sets the bar high and, as such, might be a stretch goal for some sectors, but he says DNV GL hope that it can serve as an important starting point for discussions between ship owners and shipyards on how to design and implement safer engine rooms.
A product of extensive research and development Wärtsilä’s research and development work do not end when a product is launched on the market. Instead, the company seeks continuous co-creation with its customers to develop and implement improvements during the entire lifecycle of the product.
“Our engines are in use for up to 40 to 50 years, and it’s our ambition to continue to partner with our customers throughout that lifecycle. We are constantly introducing new safety features and innovations to ensure that our products continue to be the safest, most efficient, state- of-the-art equipment out there,” Backlund says.
“The smart fuel hose is a co- creation project between Wärtsilä, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, DNV GL and Wärtsilä’s long-term supplier DunlopHiflex part of Alfagomma Group,” continues Backlund. “It was a long journey that required time and resources to test and identify the right materials and structure.”
Once the product was developed it also underwent extensive field tests lasting almost a year, on board a vessel operated by a Norwegian ferry company, before its market launch at the start of this year.
“The smart fuel hose has been created using all the available expertise and knowledge gathered
The Wärtsilä Smart fuel hose is the result of two years of focused research and development
work, during which time
“By making products with increased fire safety more readily available, the associated costs will be reduced, and I believe the fire safety standard in the engine room will be raised,” he says.
“The consequences of shipboard fires to life, property and the environment far outweigh the cost associated with increasing the fire safety on board. In many cases, a relatively inexpensive component upgrade or the introduction of a cost-free on board procedure could increase the fire safety considerably,” Dirix concludes.
The Report • September 2019 • Issue 89 | 49
Wärtsilä partnered with suppliers, DNV GL and several customers to create the optimal product.
throughout the years to ensure better safety for people on board vessels. It has been tested in harsh conditions, both in the field and in labs, and has been approved by classification societies. It is also a drop-in replacement for the old hose, making installation easy. What could be smarter than that?” asks Backlund.
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