Fighting engine room fires

Finland`s Marioff Oy says it is gearing up for unprecedented demand for its tailor-made Hi-Fog water mist fire protection system. This follows the highlighting of engine room fires by The Salvage Association as one of the largest single causes of ship casualties, and the recommendations of the IMO`s Maritime Safety Committee.

In addition to the main ship system, the IMO requirement is for a water based local application fire fighting system in Class A machinery spaces. New passenger vessels over 500g and cargo ships over 2,000g built after July 2002 will have to be fitted with water-based systems, and existing passenger vessels over 2,000g will have to be retrofitted by October 2005.

The Hi-Fog system fitted in the engine rooms of the 142,000g Voyager of the Seas has 300 sprinklers in the machinery spaces providing fire protection for the vessel`s diesel-electric system.