Fires on board ships remain among the most severe and frequent maritime accidents, with their incidence rising significantly in recent years — particularly on container vessels and ro-ro cargo/passenger ships.
In a recently published technical report, DNV — one of the world’s leading classification societies — shares insights from its extensive experience in post-fire structural and material assessments. The document provides valuable guidance for both ship managers and shipyards involved in repair work.
Rapid emergency response
Through its DNV ERS™ (Emergency Response Service), DNV provides a rapid assessment of residual strength and stability of the affected vessel. This enables operators and other stakeholders to make critical decisions — from evacuation to initiating firefighting and salvage operations — based on concrete technical data rather than estimates alone.
Post-fire assessment guide
As part of its post-incident support, DNV has developed a specialised guide (available through DNV DATE) enabling rapid evaluation of:
- Reserve strength of the ship hull structure
- The extent of repairs needed, depending on the degree of degradation of steel properties exposed to high temperatures
Drone inspections
An innovative element of the DNV approach is the use of certified drones for post-fire inspections. These allow rapid access to affected structural areas, eliminating the need to provide physical human access to potentially dangerous or hard-to-reach spaces.
The report underscores the importance of a prompt and well-founded technical response to maritime fires, in order to minimise losses and accelerate the process of returning the vessel to operation.
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