LR’s new fire safety guidance for container ships

The Fire (C, Risk) notation is designed to give designers, shipyards, owners and operators a structured means of assessing fire safety arrangements against the specific profile of an individual vessel.

The notation is supported by detailed guidance to help stakeholders select the most appropriate mitigation measures, drawing on best practice and proven technologies. It was included in the July 2025 update of Lloyd’s Register’s Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships and represents the first time the ShipRight Risk Based Certification methodology has been applied to container ship fire safety. The approach allows safety enhancements to be identified, evaluated and validated from concept design through to operational deployment, offering greater flexibility than prescriptive requirements alone.

In addition to its immediate fire safety benefits, Fire (C, Risk) supports Lloyd’s Register’s wider ambitions to encourage innovation, enable the adoption of new technologies and integrate digital tools into design verification.

Commenting on the launch, Gabriele Sancin, risk notation technical lead at Lloyd’s Register, said: “There are many options to enhance container ship fire safety, from advanced detection systems to alternative hold arrangements and smart suppression technologies. Our new notation ensures that tailored, effective fire safety solutions are chosen from demonstrated best practice to reduce risk to crew, cargo and operations.”

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